Senior practitioner

Senior practitioners manage complex cases, provide quality assurance and support less experienced social workers.

Experienced practitioners

Senior practitioners are also referred to as:

As a senior practitioner you'll:

supervise less experienced social workers and practitioners to achieve positive outcomes for children and families
lead on complex cases and chair key meetings such as case reviews and core group meetings
collect and analyse information and present your findings at strategic meetings
monitor and assess the quality of work carried out by social workers
develop training and track the development of less experienced social workers
help develop and implement relevant policies and procedures
carry out case reviews and provide feedback to improve social workers' skills and practice
work with multi-partner agencies to support children and families
model good practice for less experienced social workers and support their well-being

You'll need:

a strong understanding of child and family social work principles, theories and practices
communication skills to articulate and deliver your views to varied audiences
the ability to manage a complex caseload and prioritise accordingly
analytical skills to assess complex situations and come up with effective solutions
the ability to build positive relationships with families and external partners
to be committed to continuous professional development

To become a senior practitioner you must have been practising as a qualified and registered social worker for at least three years.

With experience you could:

progress into a management role such as team manager or service manager
study for a postgraduate MA in Advanced Professional Practice with a local authority
become a practice educator and train and mentor students
further specialise in specific areas of social work practice
research or study for a PhD

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Next page: Practice supervisor

These resources have been developed by Department for Education.
Published: 18 September 2023
Last updated: 21 November 2025