Job Details
This is a full‑time, permanent position for a Senior Practitioner within Fife’s Child Protection Social Work Team. The team is a small, central service based in Glenrothes and consists of three Senior Practitioners, seven Social Workers and one Social Work Assistant, led by a Team Manager. The starting salary is £45,990.00 progressing up to £55,263.09.
The Senior Practitioner role is pivotal in supporting the Team Manager to deliver a high‑quality service to the children and families we work with. Key responsibilities include managing child protection referrals, assessing risk, and developing safety plans for children who are at risk of significant harm. The role also involves leading interagency referral discussions and managing child protection investigations, including the coordination of joint investigative interviews using the Scottish Child Interview Model.
The Child Protection Team has a strong focus on children’s rights and safety. We place a significant emphasis on listening to the children and young people we support to ensure their views are central to the development of plans, support and protection. We work with families to build positive relationships and adopt strength‑based approaches.
The Senior Practitioner will also support the Team Manager in team development, quality assurance, and staff supervision.
The Children and Families, and Justice Service is committed to supporting its workforce to be skilled, confident and competent. We offer a range of support to our employees, including:
1. A commitment to regular, reflective supervision focused on professional development.
2. A culture where your voice matters and opportunities are available to shape how we work as a service.
3. Bespoke training and a range of career development opportunities.
4. Generous annual leave and flexible working opportunities.
5. Competitive salaries.
6. A local government pension scheme, along with employee benefits and rewards.
The Person
You will be an experienced social work practitioner, educated to SCQF Level 9, with a professional qualification in Social Work. You must be a registered Social Worker with the Scottish Social Services Council.
You will hold an accredited post‑qualifying award (. Certificate in Child Protection Studies, Mental Health Officer Accreditation, Practice Educator Qualification), or demonstrate a clear commitment to achieving this within two years of appointment.
You should have considerable experience in a relevant setting and be able to demonstrate effective practice in complex situations, including assessments of risk.
You must have the ability to travel throughout Fife.
You will have strong knowledge and understanding of Child and Adult Protection guidelines, as well as information‑sharing protocols.
You should have experience of effective multi‑agency working to achieve shared outcomes.