Job Description
Senior Practitioner – 16+ Care Leavers Service Closing date: 9 November 2025
Salary: Up to £51,130 per year
Plus £6,000 market premia and £3,000 annual retention payment after one year
Medway Council – Children & Adults Directorate
Location: Medway / Hybrid working available
Help shape brighter futures for young people in Medway At Medway Council, we’re passionate about supporting children and young people to reach their full potential.
Our 16+ Care Leavers Service works with young people aged 16–25, guiding them through care and into independent adulthood.
We’re now looking for a Senior Practitioner who’s ready to make a real difference — someone experienced, compassionate, and ready to lead by example.
What you’ll be doing As a Senior Practitioner, you’ll:
* Hold a manageable caseload (maximum 8 young people), allowing you to focus on quality relationships and outcomes.
* Provide high-quality, strengths-based social work that empowers young people to thrive.
* Undertake focused assessments, SMART care plans and reviews that deliver clear, measurable impact.
* Offer expert advice, mentoring and reflective supervision to less experienced colleagues.
* Lead on an area of specialist practice (e.g. safeguarding, wellbeing, education, or court work).
* Be a Signs of Safety Champion, embedding consistent, positive practice across the team.
About you We’re looking for a passionate, skilled, and motivated social work professional who is:
* A qualified and registered Social Worker (SWE registration required).
* Experienced in working with looked-after children and care leavers.
* Confident managing complex situations and promoting independence.
* Committed to continuous learning, reflection, and collaborative working.
* Driven by a genuine desire to help young people build brighter, independent futures.
What we offer Working with Medway means being part of a supportive, forward-thinking team that values its people. You’ll enjoy:
* A competitive salary with market premia and retention payments.
* Small caseloads for meaningful, relationship-based practice.
* Regular, reflective supervision and opportunities to mentor others.
* Ongoing training, CPD, and career development pathways.
* A real chance to influence practice and service development.
Join us – and make a lasting impact If you’re ready to take the next step in your social work career and play a key role in empowering care-experienced young people, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now and help us make Medway a place where every young person can thrive. you can email your CV to Delanie.heyes@servicecare.org.uk or call 01772 208964