Senior Social Work Practitioner Band 7

Job details

• Branch: Trustwide (SEHSCT)
• Location: Dunmurry Health Clinic
• Salary: Band 7 (£47,810 - £54,710)
• Contract Type: Temporary
• Opening Date: 23/06/26
• Closes: Tue, 07 July 2026 @ 5:30 PM
• Interview Dates: TBC

Notes

If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. “A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026”. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.” Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Senior Social Work Practitioner

LOCATION: Dunmurry Health Clinic

(1 Post covering both Teams/sites-

Lisburn Primary and Community Care Centre, Lisburn)

GRADE: Band 7

REPORTS TO: Social Work Locality Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Through Assistant Director, Older People’s Services

to the Director of Social Work

JOB SUMMARY/MAIN PURPOSE

The Senior Practitioner will work with the Team Lead and Locality Manager to ensure that Older People in receipt of Community Social Work and Social Care services, receive a high quality, safe and effective service that takes cognisance of their physical/ psychological/ social/ emotional and spiritual needs, to maximise their quality of life and lived experience.

A key aspect of the Senior Practitioner role will be to work alongside the Team Leader to ensuring financial accountability within the team. This will include, but is not exclusive to, the monitoring and reduction of enhanced support in place in care homes, scrutiny and validation of independent homecare provider spend, oversight of escalation requests.

The Senior Practitioner will be expected to provide leadership and commitment to delivering a service which promotes the rights, citizenship, and dignity of Older People. Within a framework of clinical and social care governance, the Senior Practitioner will support and guide Social Work and Social Care practice, ensuring that teams understand and adhere to all statutory requirements relevant to the community teams. This will include compliance with care management reviews and undertaking the DAPO role, providing leadership to the team in relation to Adult Safeguarding issues. The post holder will lead on the development of standards and systems and work closely with the Team Leader to support the delivery of assessments, interventions and review, including compliance with the Mental Capacity Order.

The post holder will work with the Social Work Locality Manager to develop a culture of excellence, expertise and compassionate care. They will have a lead role in developing evidence based best practices, to support Older People living in the community, promoting social integration, autonomy and choice.

The Senior Practitioner will work with colleagues to develop systems to support oversight and analysis of the delivery of the care management function and to promote a strengths based, rights and outcomes focused approach to understanding the needs of Older People. The Senior Practitioner will lead on the delivery of social work interventions, care planning and review, informed by best practices and supported by full engagement with Older People. The post holder will engage with members of the multi-disciplinary team and community sector providers, to build networks and processes to support the delivery of integrated care.

KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

To work with the Team Lead and Locality Manager to develop a team culture which supports staff to provide compassionate, person centred, rights-based support to Older People living in the community recognising the impact of ageing and frailty.

To deputise in the absence of the Team Leader.

To carry a small flexible caseload where key aspects of the role requires the Senior Practitioner to manage crisis, complex needs or statutory functions and where efficiencies or specialist input is required until cases can be transferred back to the social work caseload.

To develop and maintain robust and accountable systems, procedures and standards, that support staff to deliver a high quality, person centred, compassionate service, within financial constraints.

To provide supervision, mentorship and reflective practice opportunities, including learning from complaints, and to undertake performance appraisals

To work with Team Lead and Locality Manager to develop and maintain information systems, which provide accurate and contemporaneous data, to understand activity, performance, demands and outcomes

To ensure strong communication and operational links with the Team Leader

and other members of the service to meet the delivery of a needs focused,

integrated and supportive service to users

To develop and maintain effective and enabling interfaces with other Social

Work, Specialist Teams and Stakeholders to ensure the delivery of seamless person-centered interventions for service users

To provide oversight in the application of internal administrative and financial processes, specific to the care management procedures and in accordance with Regional and Trust policy

To ensure a co-ordinated and consistent approach to service provision that is cost effective and efficient, making the best use of available resources

To work closely with the Team Lead in collating and analysing data and contributing to the completion of the monthly and quarterly governance report as well as annual DSF report.

To work with the Locality Manager to ensure the discharge of statutory functions in accordance with legal requirements, professional guidelines / standards and best practice, ensuring that Key Performance Indicators are met.

To contribute to the service area’s local governance structures, and to assist the Team Leader in devising and completing an audit cycle and contributing to risk identification and management.

To work with the Locality Manager to analyse, identify, review and report on the efficient and effective use of commissioned services while escalating where appropriate to Senior Managers, Contracts, RQIA and Adult Safeguarding Gateway Team issues of concern.

To monitor and analyse trends in the quality of care provision and to contribute to contractual monitoring processes, in accordance with the Trust Quality Assurance arrangements

To develop systems and arrangements to ensure professional staff are able to maintain their professional registration requirements and are supported in meeting their relevant code of practice.

To undertake the DAPO role in line with Regional and Trust Adult Safeguarding Policies and Procedures. To take a lead role in the implementation of the new Regional Protection Bill and support staff in its practical application

To provide leadership in relation to compliance with Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the implementation of the Mental Capacity Order.

To be conversant with relevant legislation and to ensure that interventions with service users are proportionate, necessary, justifiable and lawful. To ensure that cases which may require the intervention of legal services, are escalated in a timely and appropriate way, with supporting assessments, care plans and reports. The Senior Practitioner will ensure that submitted written documentation is compliant with service area standards.

To support and contribute to the service area’s vision and strategic direction in developing a model of gerontological Social Work

To identify training and development needs of staff, planning the necessary

training and development opportunities to ensure the delivery of evidence

based best practices

To develop and support systems that enables service users and their carers/ advocates, to provide feedback on experience, outcomes and satisfaction

To identify and undertake Quality Improvement initiatives using a range of

recognised Quality Improvement Tools

Prioritise work required by Locality Manager and Operational Manager as per timeframes outlined

Work closely with the Team Lead to ensure high standards of practice, service improvements, performance targets and productive interface working is achieved

Attendance at interface, internal and external meetings

To represent the Trust through Regional platforms as required

Flexibility is required to work across different teams.

EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS - RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure a team culture that upholds the Human Rights of Older People, Carers and Families

To ensure that interventions delivered by Social Work and Social Care staff are lawful, necessary, justifiable, proportionate and least restrictive

To act as a role model in advocating for the Human Rights of Older People, demonstrating the values of Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity and Autonomy, and where necessary challenging oppressive and discriminatory practices.

RAISING CONCERNS – RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency.

The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the Trust’s ‘Your Right to Raise a Concern’ (Whistleblowing) Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Organisation supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.

Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.

Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.

Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.

Adhere to and promote Organisational policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins the Organisation’s values.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to

Ensure the Organisation’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Organisation's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

Take responsibility to minimise the Trust’s environmental impact wherever possible. This will include recycling, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use. Helping to reduce paper waste by minimising printing/copying and reducing water usage, reporting faults and heating/cooling concerns promptly and minimising travel.

All employees of the Organisation are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the South Eastern H&SC Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the South Eastern H&SC Trust policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent The Organisation’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within The Organisation's area, as needs of the service demand.

eHealth

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care. Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information. PPI_leaflet.pdf (hscni.net)

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE Senior Social Work Practitioner

DEPARTMENT/DIRECTORATE Primary Care & Older People Service

SALARY Band 7

HOURS 37.5 per week

Ref: 55733888

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Applicants must demonstrate on their application form that they are currently

Employee, Agency Worker or an Intern of the South Eastern Health & Social Care

Trust.

Have a minimum of three years post qualifying experience, including two years at band 6 or above.

Evidence of Post Qualifying further study & experience of working with an adult service user group.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Qualifications/ Registration

Hold a Degree in Social Work and be registered with the relevant professional body.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment.

This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Promote high standards of Social Work practice by demonstrating enhanced competence, knowledge and skills

Evidence of effective multi-disciplinary working

Evidence of working effectively with stakeholders

Demonstrate time management, prioritising and organisational skills

Evidence of IT and analytical skills

Evidence of risk assessment and risk management

Ability to work autonomously

Interview / Test

Knowledge

Demonstrate knowledge of community social work / care management systems.

Demonstrate knowledge of relevant legislation, policy and procedures.

Understanding of Adults/ Older People Community Social Work Services.

An understanding of Social Work Governance.

Interview / Test

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Demonstrate ability to mentor and enable professional development.

Demonstrate ability to guide and direct staff as required

Demonstrate ability of undertaking the DAPO role in line with Regional and Trust Adult Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.

Experience of undertaking Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessments

Experience of direct line management / supervision of staff.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Qualifications

Evidence of undertaking post-qualifying training.

Shortlisting by Application Form

If this post is being sought on secondment then the individual MUST have the permission of their line manager IN ADVANCE of making application.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

To access a copy of the Access NI Code of Practice, please Click here

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has guidance on the Recruitment of People with Criminal Convictions. To access a copy of this guidance, please Click Here

Protecting and using your information

To access a copy of the Trust’s Data Protection Policy Statement,

Click Here

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. Request for recognition of previous service with non-direct NHS/HSC organisations towards starting salary and incremental credit must be made via the Retained Recruitment team within 3 months from commencement of employment. Requests made after 3 months will not be considered. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance