Senior Practitioner (Social Work) - Adult Service


Company:	Sunderland City Council
Salary:	£40,001 - £50,000
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Sunderland, SR1 3AA
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	20 Jul 2026
Closing date:	23 Aug 2026

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Summary

We are recruiting into Senior Social Worker post and are eager to find someone with the vision and motivation which matches that of the service. andnbsp;

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a forward thinking and transformational Council, rated Good by CQC across all areas. As a Senior Social Worker, you will take a strengths-based approach to working in partnership with people and work effectively within the existing integrated models of working in the city. You will be able evidence your commitment and social work value base, to create positive outcomes for vulnerable adults in the city and their families and carers. You will have a willingness to take a flexible approach to meet changing demands of Adult Social Care and Health partners.

Are you a passionate and experienced social work professional ready to support to lead a dynamic team? We are seeking Senior Social Workers to provide operational leadership to our dedicated teams, ensuring high-quality, person-centred care for customers and their families.

About the Role:

As a Senior Social Worker, you will oversee the delivery of social work services, with support and guidance from an experienced Team Manager. You will be responsible for supervising staff, managing performance, and driving service improvements in line with legislative frameworks and best practice.

You will manage and develop a team of social workers and assessment and review officers, working closely with partners to ensure safe, timely, and strengths-based interventions. Youandrsquo;ll play a key role in integrating health and social care, improving outcomes for Sunderland residents, and supporting the Councilandrsquo;s vision for a connected, inclusive city.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, supervise, and develop a team of social work staff.

Oversee assessments, support planning, and reviews in line with statutory duties.

Champion strengths-based, person-centred approaches to care and planning.

Build strong partnerships with health, housing, and community services.

Promote integration with NHS partners and contribute to service transformation.

Monitor team performance, and support professional development.

Ensure compliance with the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding procedures and relevant legal and national policy frameworks.

Multi agency work and close partnership work with customers, carers and other partners.andnbsp;

About You

Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.

Post-qualification experience in adult social care.

Proven leadership and team management skills.

Strong knowledge of relevant legislation and policy frameworks. Working knowledge of Care Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and relevant legal and national policy frameworks.

Excellent communication skills; a positive approach to strengths based social work and working in partnership with people Commitment to Sunderland City Councilandrsquo;s vison of inclusion, equality, and continuous improvement.

Experience of supporting and motiving team members with sound supervisory experience.andnbsp;

Sunderland is an exciting place to work with a range of additional benefits including:

Regionally competitive salary and pay scales.

Generous annual leave plus Bank Holidays with the ability to buy additional leave annually.

Supportive leadership and ongoing professional development.

Access to a generous, defined benefit pension scheme and an additional voluntary contributions scheme (AVC wise).

Working in a supportive team environment and culture of learning and development across Adult Social Care.

A collaborative, inclusive, and values-driven working environment.

Opportunities to shape and innovate social work practice in Sunderland.

A range of employee benefits and schemes including a salary sacrifice car lease scheme.

Employee Wellness and Cycle to Work Schemes.

A range of flexible working options, including the ability to take up to two flexi days per month.

Sunderland City Council is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We value the diversity of our workforce and the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. andnbsp;

This post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to a DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Sunderland City Council - and#39;Thatand#39;s the way we do thingsand#39;: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi_lJ9Gzy_E

Applications should be made on-line at northeastjobs.org.uk/sunderlandcitycouncil. For further assistance contact: jobs@sunderland.gov.uk

Please note that CVs are not acceptable.

For an informal discussion regarding the roles, please contact Daniel Lawson on 07552 213 447.

Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered online with. Please check your email inbox after the closing date for notifications as you may not be notified by any other means. Please remember to check your junk mail items.

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