Job Title: Practice Manager (Senior Social Worker) – MASH
Salary: £45,624 to £52,038 per annum
Grade: F
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
About the department
Thurrock’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people. Bringing together key partner agencies, including Children’s Services, Police, Health, Education and Early Help, the MASH provides a coordinated approach to information sharing, risk assessment and decision-making to ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time.
About the role
We are seeking an exceptional, engaging and committed individual to join Thurrock’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) as Practice Manager. This role is ideally suited to an experienced and qualified Social Worker at Senior Practitioner level or above who is passionate about delivering high-quality safeguarding practice and improving outcomes for children and families.
This is a unique and exciting opportunity to provide practice leadership within a dynamic multi-agency environment, supporting the MASH Team to assess risk, make timely and proportionate threshold decisions, and work collaboratively with partner agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in Thurrock. As a Signs of Safety local authority, we are committed to strengths-based, relationship-focused practice, and the successful candidate will play a key role in embedding these principles across the service.
The Practice Manager will provide oversight and support in relation to child protection, children in need and Early Help contacts, ensuring robust decision-making, effective information sharing and timely responses for children and families. The role will also be instrumental in supporting the implementation of the Families First agenda, promoting earlier intervention, whole-family working and strong multi-agency collaboration to ensure families receive the right support at the right time.
The post holder will undertake complex risk assessments, provide practice guidance and quality assurance, deputise for the Team Manager where required, and promote compliance with relevant legislation, statutory guidance, local policies and procedures. This is an opportunity to contribute to service development, champion excellent practice and help shape the future of safeguarding and family help services within Thurrock.
Requirements:
- Be registered with Social Work England and hold a social work degree/masters
- Be at Senior Practitioner level
- Subject to an Enhanced DBS Check
- Experience within a multi-agency/front door team
- Extensive understanding of threshold and intervention
- Knowledge of universal support and Early Help Services
- Be present in the office for a minimum of two days per week
This role offers the chance to make a real difference by championing Signs of Safety practice and supporting the delivery of the Families First agenda, helping families build on their strengths and access the support they need before issues escalate.
What we’re looking for:
We’re looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Social Work professional who has:
- Significant post-qualifying experience within Children’s Social Care, including safeguarding, child protection and Early Help.
- Excellent analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess risk, apply thresholds and make informed recommendations in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience of providing practice leadership, coaching and support to social workers and multi-agency professionals.
- A strong understanding of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures, including Working Together to Safeguard Children.
- Experience of working effectively within a multi-agency setting, building positive relationships with partner organisations and promoting effective information sharing.
- A commitment to strengths-based, relationship-focused practice and the principles of Signs of Safety.
- The ability to support and drive service improvement, including the implementation of the Families First agenda and the delivery of high-quality early intervention and family help services.
- Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
Essential Qualifications:
- Social Work qualification (Degree, Masters, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).
- Registration with Social Work England.
- Evidence of Continued Professional Development.
- Significant post-qualification experience working with children and families, including experience at Senior Practitioner level or above.
DBS Check:
- Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List check required.
Benefits of Working with us:
At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
- Staff discounts and local offers
- A supportive and inclusive working environment
Important Dates
Closing Date: (Redeployment Only): 13th August 2026
Closing Date (Internal & External): 23rd August 2026
Interview Date: To Be Confirmed
Additional Information:
If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:
Amy Crumpler – MASH Team Manager
To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:
Download Job Profile (PDF Document)
Application Requirements
As part of the Safer Recruitment process, Gap Management from when leaving full-time education is required for all Safeguarding roles. Please complete the Gaps in Employment grid provided (refer to the example document for guidance) and upload it under Miscellaneous Documents as part of your application. Please provide a full history with explanations of any gaps and ensure you also upload a copy of your full CV.
If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.
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Why Thurrock?
Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.
Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.
This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.
Our location
Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.
We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.
Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.
Staff benefits
We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.
Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.
We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.
For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council
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