The main purpose of this role is to support the Team Manager, in order to deliver the key strategic aims of the organisation and to ensure that citizens of Tower Hamlets have access to a high quality service, ensuring high quality standards of professional practice and performance in service delivery, developing a culture of continuous improvement within the team. Be a role model of the TOWER behaviours, leading by example. This will include supporting the Team Manager in driving forward the delivery of strength based models of practice, maximising the use of service users individual strengths, and that of their support networks, community resources and universal services before utilising council resources. The senior practitioner will also provide expert guidance in situations of complexity, where there is conflict or resistance and enable others in the team to manage complex and challenging situations. ROLE REQUIREMENTS: 1. Contribute to the management of the team. Taking a key role in overseeing practice within the team including the care and support process, the facilitation of annual reviews/reassessments, decision-making regarding eligibility for support and safeguarding 2. Support the Team Manager in ensuring the operational effectiveness of the team, allocating and prioritising workloads, supervising the correct recording and throughput of cases and taking responsibility for ensuring all cases are safely managed. 3. Ensure the team understands and adheres to the Quality Assurance Framework, and manage the effective use of performance processes 4. Promote positive working relationships in and across teams and with partners in statutory, voluntary and third sector organisations, using strategies for collaboration CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES 5. Actively contribute to the council's priorities and outcomes in a way that promotes a 'one organisation' approach. 6. Develop and maintain positive relationships with colleagues, stakeholders and communities to ensure the council and the directorate strategic priorities are effectively implemented. 7. Promote equality among all staff and ensure that services are delivered in a non-discriminatory way, that is inclusive of all disadvantaged groups. 8. Support organisational change and learning, following and implementing appropriate systems of self-development, communication and engagement, quality measures, monitoring and review in delivering the functions of the role. 9. Promote sustainability, including encouraging a culture of innovation and accountability amongst all council staff. 10. Deputising for other team managers and service manager if required 11. Support the Team Manager in managing the development of the team's knowledge base and expertise as well as supporting the day to day management of the team to ensure services are delivered and meet the standards required. 12. Ensure effective supervision of staff within the team including development and appraisal; induction; performance management; absence management; resolution of conflict; implementation of change. Take action as appropriate in accordance with council employment procedures and policies e.g. disciplinary, capability etc. This may include observing practice or co-working cases. SERVICE 13. Provide a high quality resource of professional advice, guidance and expertise, including case supervision, case conferences and audits for staff in the team and professionals from partner agencies to help ensure the delivery of a high standard of service. Make use of sophisticated, critical reasoning and both model and facilitate reflective and evidence-informed practice. 14. Take responsibility for driving forward the delivery of strength based models of practice, maximising the use of service users individual strengths, and that of their support networks, community resources and universal services before utilising council resources. Encourage the use of direct payments as an option wherever possible 15. Ensure Shorter Term Support is promoted to people requiring support with a view to assisting them to regain or increase levels of independence as far as possible. 16. Ensure those accessing the service, including families and carers, are at the centre of decision making over their support arrangements and that opportunities for choice and control are optimised and reflected in their assessments and reviews. 17. Initiate and develop joint working with health related agencies (including GPs and Intermediate care), the third sector, local housing providers and other agencies, in order to facilitate co-ordinated, high quality outcomes for people needing support. 18. Model the effective assessment and management of risk in complex situations, across a range of situations, including positive risk taking situations. This may include leading by example by carrying a caseload of complex cases, depending on the needs of the service. There is an expectation that each senior practitioner will hold a minimum of one case at any given time, to promote the ongoing continued development of their own professional practice. 19. To act as the Safeguarding Adult Manager (SAM) lead on cases where a safeguarding concern has been identified and utilise the council's policies and procedures, providing professional leadership on safeguarding issues in collaboration with other senior members of the team. 20. Ensure that social work case records, assessments, plans and documentation are effectively maintained in line with service standards, practice recording standards and organisational policy and procedure. 21. Contribute to the development of new initiatives through representation on working groups or multiagency forums, training courses etc. and act as a lead for identified pieces of work that will shape current and new ways of working. Act as a resource in the development and delivery of training packages and presentations.