About

• Internal applicants MUST apply via Opportunity Marketplace. Please ensure you complete your SKILLS and QUALIFICATIONS via “Me” tab/tile on Fusion or by clicking on the application link in the section of the application form titled “REVIEW SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS”.
• ACTUAL CLOSING DATE: Applications must be received by 22 February 2026 at 11:59mp
• Location: Council Headquarters, Hamilton
• Hours: 35 hours per week, permanent
• Work Pattern: to be discussed at interview
• Salary / Hourly Rate: £50,622 - £51,370
• We are embarking on an exciting phase of development within our Commissioning and Assurance arrangements for Child Care services in Social Work. As part of this initiative, we are pleased to announce a new opportunity for a motivated and skilled individual (x2) to join our team in the role of Social Worker or Senior Practitioner (dependent on experience).
• This position offers a unique chance to contribute to shaping and strengthening our approach to commissioning and assurance, ensuring high-quality outcomes for children and families.

The responsibilities and requirements outlined below reflect the current scope of the role, though these may evolve as the team and service continue to develop

• Contract Oversight: Lead and manage contract activity within a designated locality or thematic area (e.g., Self-Directed Support).
• Provider Review: Coordinate and conduct reviews of care providers operating under legacy contractual arrangements.
• Quality Assurance: Collaborate with frontline teams to evaluate the quality of both internal and externally commissioned services.
• Complex Case Support: Assist localities in the coordination and review of complex cases, ensuring robust care planning and service delivery.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal colleagues and external partners to support service improvement.
• Service Monitoring: Audit and monitor Child Care service provision in accordance with established procedural frameworks.
• Contract Implementation: Work directly with providers to implement, review, and refine contractual agreements.
• Workplan Delivery: Support the delivery of the Quality Assurance workplan in partnership with operational teams and stakeholders.
• Reporting and Intelligence: Produce analytical reports on externally commissioned services, including assessments of compliance with regulatory and contractual standards.
• Service Visits and Support: Conduct direct visits to service providers as part of the assurance process, offering guidance where performance issues or development needs are identified, and reporting on required action plans.
• Strategic Collaboration: Work closely with procurement and strategic planning colleagues to ensure commissioned services align with individual needs and broader strategic objectives.
• Child Protection Expertise: Demonstrated experience and understanding of child protection practices is essential.
• View the Senior Practitioner job profile.
• If you require to submit any further additional information to support your application (not a CV), please upload this under supporting documents.
• Please Apply online - All correspondence will be via your email address
• Preferred candidates identified after the selection event process will be required to assist the recruitment team, if need be, to ensure timely completion of recruitment checks. If recruitment checks are not completed within a reasonable timescale, you may automatically be withdrawn from this position.
• Canvassing of Elected Members or employees of South Lanarkshire's Council directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment within the Council shall disqualify the applicant.
• Legislative Information
• This post is excepted in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 2003.
• This post is considered Regulated Work with Children, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children.
• Preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check, prior to a formal offer of employment being made.
• Please refer to https://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk for further information about the disclosure process and best practice.
• Overseas Criminal Records Check
• An Overseas Criminal Records Check is required where applicants born outside the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or who have lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period of three months in the past 10 years.
• Applicants are responsible for providing evidence of the Overseas Criminal Record Check. The check must be translated into English and should come from the police, judicial authority, government department or home embassy of the country or countries concerned. The check must include an official statement confirming that the applicant does not have any history of or pending criminal record proceedings. Checks may be carried out to authenticate the documents provided.
• Equal Opportunities and Armed Forces Community Covenant
• South Lanarkshire Council is an Equal Opportunities employer and encourages applications from all members of the community.
• We are a Disability Confident Scheme Employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria of the person specification job description.
• South Lanarkshire Council is committed to providing support to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families which is set out in the Armed Forces Community Covenant. Veterans & Service leavers are guaranteed an interview who meet the essential criteria of the person specification job description.

As an employee of South Lanarkshire Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including

• Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme
• To increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme.
• Up to 33 days annual leave
• Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days)
• Occupational sick pay
• Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave.
• Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema.
• Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support)
• PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT ACCEPT CVS IN PLACE OF THE APPLICATION FORM.
• To be considered for this vacancy you must complete the application form. All CV submissions will be disregarded.

• South Lanarkshire Council is the unitary authority serving the South Lanarkshire council area in Scotland. The council has its headquarters in Hamilton, has 16,000 employees, and a budget of almost £1bn. The large and varied geographical territory takes in rural and upland areas, market towns such as Lanark, Strathaven and Carluke, the urban burghs of Rutherglen, Cambuslang, and East Kilbride which was Scotland's first new town.

• Our vision is for South Lanarkshire as set out in our Economic Strategy is to have one of the strongest and most dynamic economies in Scotland, where businesses, communities, and residents achieve their full potential and prosper.

We will achieve this through three key interrelated themes

• People - skills, learning and employability
• Place - physical infrastructure and place
• Business - business development and growth