Your new roleSouthend City Council are looking to appoint a 28hrs-per-week, permanent children''s experienced Mental Health Senior Practitioner to join the Fostering Team.Within this position, hybrid working opportunities are available. However, you are required to be on-site at the Civic Centre a minimum of 2 days a week.The role is focused on providing an efficient, cost-effective emotional health and wellbeing service to children looked after and their foster carers. It supports children''s emotional, behavioural, and mental health needs through consultation, targeted intervention, and the development and review of support plans, particularly for young people with high SDQ scores. The post provides professional consultation and guidance to colleagues across children''s services, ensuring emerging needs and risks are identified and communicated. It plays a key role in developing foster carers'' capacity through training, support forums, and trauma-informed practice, enabling them to meet the complex needs of children in their care.The role works in close partnership with internal and external services to deliver placement-based emotional health support and promote stability, wellbeing, and improved outcomes for children and young people. What you''ll need to succeedTo be shortlisted for this position, you must be able to work in the UK, have a recognised Social Work qualification and have completed your ASYE. You must have strong statutory experience and a solid understandi