Locum Adult Safeguarding Senior Practitioner

Senior Practitioner – Adults’ Services (Southampton City Council)

Job Overview

We are recruiting a committed and experienced **Senior Practitioner (Qualified Social Worker)** to join **Southampton City Council’s Adults’ Services team**. This role involves managing complex adult social care cases while also providing professional support and leadership to colleagues.

As a Senior Practitioner, you will ensure adults receive safe, person-centred, and outcome-focused support, enabling them to maintain independence, wellbeing, and dignity. You will play a pivotal role in safeguarding, service development, and the professional growth of the wider team.

Key Responsibilities

– Lead on complex adult social care cases, including safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act assessments, and best-interest decisions. – Provide guidance, reflective supervision, and mentoring to less experienced social workers. – Develop and review personalised care and support plans in collaboration with adults, families, and carers. – Prepare and present professional reports for court proceedings, safeguarding enquiries, and statutory reviews. – Work in partnership with health services, housing, voluntary and community organisations to deliver joined-up care. – Ensure compliance with the Care Act 2014, Mental Health Act, and all relevant policies and procedures. – Contribute to service audits, quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives. – Promote best practice, evidence-based decision making, and a culture of learning within the team.

About You

You are a resilient and confident social worker with substantial experience in adults’ social care. You are skilled in handling complex cases and have the leadership ability to support and guide colleagues. Your communication skills, professional judgement, and commitment to safeguarding enable you to deliver high-quality, person-centred outcomes for adults in the community.

Requirements

– Qualified Social Worker (QSW) with registration to **Social Work England**. – Significant post-qualification experience in **Adults’ Services**, including safeguarding and complex casework. – Strong knowledge of adult social care legislation and statutory guidance. – Demonstrable experience of mentoring, supervising, or supporting other practitioners. – Excellent report-writing, analytical, and advocacy skills. – Ability to work effectively under pressure while maintaining a focus on best practice.

Contract & Salary

– Employer: **Southampton City Council** – Service: **Adults’ Services** – Contract type: **Full-time, locum/temporary contract via Tripod Partners** – Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

How to Apply

If you are an experienced Qualified Social Worker looking for a senior practice role with Southampton City Council, we would like to hear from you. Please **apply using the form on the page**.