Senior Practitioner – Children & Young People with Disabilities – Mid

Permanent,Full Time

£48,205 to £57,988 Per Annum

Location:

Chelmsford

Working Style:
Operational field-based worker

Closing Date: 26th October 2026

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.

The Service consists of the Children with Disabilities Teams, Young People with Disabilities Teams, Child and Family Support Services Teams, Preparation for Adulthood Advisors Teams, Occupational Therapy Teams and a Core Service Development support team. This is an exciting and vibrant service which is in an ongoing phase of service improvement and development to enhance positive outcomes for children and young people with disabilities (from birth up to age 25) and their families and embracing the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) reforms.

The Children with Disabilities Team works with young people and their families from the age of 0 - 16 years.

We are currently looking for a Senior Practitioner to work in the Young People with Disabilities Mid team, based in County Hall, Chelmsford and working in the mid Essex geographical area.

Working to the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Children and Families Act 2014, Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, including all other relevant legislation pertinent to supporting children, young people and adults with Disabilities within the remit of Social Care.

To read more about our business area, please visit:
Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

The Senior Practitioner role requires leadership in the team, providing both support and mentoring to newly qualified or less experienced staff, overseeing Duty, compiling reports for Team manager and wider service as required and deputising for the Team Manager when needed. They will oversee the review of some child in need plans particularly prior to closure and will have responsibility to lead in a practice area.

There will be good opportunities for own professional development and for being part of developing the team and service. There is an ethos of openness to the development of new ideas, particularly to reinforce our relationship-based focus, with service users, within the staff group and with partner agencies. The successful candidate will be expected to bring developed social work skills and high standards of practice to their own caseload as well as providing modelling, advice and support to colleagues.

They will be committed to systemic, relationship based social work, providing effective, innovative interventions and with the ability to build good partnerships, both with our external partners and within the organisation.

• Manage complex caseloads for children and young people with disabilities, providing assessments, advice, and support.
• Provide integrated services to help families meet needs and support transitions to adulthood.
• Monitor unmet needs and develop support networks.
• Assist team manager with team management, including chairing meetings, supervising team members, and deputising as needed.
• Commit to service development projects.
• Maintain records, produce reports, and participate in meetings and reviews.
• Build relationships with other teams and agencies to plan and implement support.
• Offer advice and advocacy for service users.
• Seek training and development opportunities.
• Undertake additional duties as required by the team manager.