Senior Practitioner Social Worker (Children's Services) - EAL12947

Vacancy Information

Hourly rate of pay: £26.09 - £29.14
Candidates will be assessed on the basis of appropriate relevant experience and qualifications and salary placed within the advertised scale.

Days and Hours of Work:
Monday - Friday, 09:00-17:00
Days of working are negotiable, starting and finishing times are flexible, and flexi time is applicable.
To start 28th September 2026.

East Lothian Children’s Services have an exciting opportunity on a full-time permanent basis, for a Senior Practitioner to join one of the Support and Intervention social work teams. The team consists of a team leader, three senior practitioners and two social workers with a Family Support Team available to support all Support and Intervention Teams. There is dedicated administrative support. All of Children’s Services is located in John Muir House, Haddington with onsite parking and we promote an open, trusting and communicative culture at all levels of the organisation.

Applicants should have a sound value base, excellent communication and report writing skills and a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of children and families social work role and responsibilities. Candidates should work well under pressure and be able to manage competing demands. We are particularly keen to receive applicants from social workers with experience in Signs of safety and Safe and Together.

East Lothian Children’s Services are keen to recruit workers who are passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for children, young people and their families. We are committed to promoting a learning culture at all levels of the organisation. Our staff are our greatest asset and we strive to be supportive, inclusive and child centred by prioritising effective supervision, manageable caseloads and a healthy work life balance.

Our vision is to support children and young people to live and learn in East Lothian and our staff are involved in developing services and implementing improvement activity around this goal. We have an accessible, on site senior management team who are committed to recruiting the best people to compliment the wide range of knowledge and experience that exists throughout the service.

If you wish to discuss this job vacancy or working for East Lothian Council, please feel free to contact the recruitment manager on the details below:

Morag Brown -

To provide an advanced level of practice that ensures appropriate services are provided to meet client needs within the department’s statutory obligations and departmental policies and procedures.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Education/Qualifications
Essential:
Approved qualification in Social Work, and SSSC registration.
Those with international Social Work qualifications should not apply unless they are fully registered with the SSSC.
Desirable:
Post qualifying award

Driving Licence
Full current driving licence and access to a vehicle
* (
* Where a disability precludes you from obtaining a driving licence, ELC will take into account its responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to allow for your disability).

PVG Membership
This post is considered as a Regulated Role with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note:

PVG member’s records are…