Practice Development Social Worker

This is a Gloucestershire County Council job.
 

• Job Title:                            Practice Development Social Worker
• Job Location:                     Shire Hall, Gloucester 
• Salary:                               £37,261 - £42,503 per annum (pro rata) 
• Hours per Week:               37 hours or 18.5 hours job share, and part time 22.2 hours
• Contract Type:                   Permanent 
• Closing Date:                     09/04/2023 
• Job Requisition Number:   4681 
• This post is open to job share

Are you a registered Social Worker with an interest in developing others, looking for your next career move?

We would love to hear from you!
 

Gloucestershire County Council Adult Social Care are holding a series of recruitment events in 2023 to share details of our many rewarding local jobs. Our events aim to inspire anyone who is thinking about a new challenge or a change of career to join our amazing Adults teams in 2023.

You will have a unique opportunity to meet our teams in which you could be working and ask them any questions you may have. You will gain insight into how we work and learn more about our current vacancies. Our Recruitment and Retention Team will be onsite to provide some useful tips on the application process.

We want to share why we care and inspire others to make a difference too. Please encourage anyone you know who may be interested in a career or a new challenge in adult social care, to come along and learn more.

Alternatively, please visit our Recruitment Events webpage. If you need any further information, please email our Adults Recruitment Team today!

About the role:

We have full time and part time Practice Development Social Worker positions available in our Practice Development Team, based at Shire Hall in Gloucester. The positions are open to full time applicants or those who want to work 18.5 hours a week as a job share, or those that would like part time at 3 days per week.

The team work to recruit, develop and retain an effective adult social work workforce, actively promoting high quality standards of practice across Adult Social Care and working with Higher Education Institutions to support effective student placements.  The team is comprised currently of a Practice Development Team Manager, six Practice Development Social Workers, a Training and Audit Coordinator and an Administrator.  The team’s work is in support of the work of the Principal Social Worker who maintains strategic oversight of the Practice Development Team.

As a Practice Development Social Worker, you will work closely with the Principal Social Worker and the Practice Development Team Manager to promote excellent strengths-based social work practice across Adult Social Care. You will support with the effective delivery of workforce learning and development initiatives, together with a range of programmes including the Adults’ Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme, the Social Worker Apprenticeship programme, as well as supporting placements for student Social Workers.

You will be expected to promote a culture of continuous learning and development, professional curiosity, encouraging accountability and role modelling these in your own best practice.

To give you an idea of what it’s like to work as a Practice Development Social Worker, read this short piece “A week in the life of …” written by one of our PDSWs.

We work flexibly with a mix of office and home working. We have free off-site parking at our office in Gloucester.

To find out more about working in the Practice Development Team, visit our “Meet the Teams” webpage here

About you:

As Social Workers, we understand the work you do on a daily basis and provide the support you need to make a difference to the people of Gloucestershire. To join us, you must have:

• A social work qualification and be SWE* registered
• Have at least 2 years post qualifying experience
• Must be prepared to work towards and secure PEPS qualifications
• Experience in working with Social Work students, Apprentices or Newly Qualified Social Workers
• Sound working knowledge of the Standards of Proficiency for Social Work, Professional Capabilities Framework and Knowledge and Skills statement for Adult services.

About us:

Gloucestershire County Council Adult Social Care is on an exciting journey, working to the Three Conversation approach, a model that re-emphasises focus on people, their strengths and the networks and community around them.

Our Social Workers do all they can to make the difference to local communities in Gloucestershire. Here are some of the benefits we offer in return for your hard work.

• Flexible working opportunities, including flexi-time and remote working (subject to the needs of the role - please discuss this at interview)
• 25.5 days annual leave rising to 30.5 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays
• Membership of a Local Government Pension Scheme
• Free off-site parking at our Gloucester office
• Regular formal and informal support
• Safe, supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
• Accredited post-qualified training opportunities, enabling you to develop your skills
• Personal licences to Adults CCINFORM
• Clear career progression pathways, to support you in progressing professionally and personally
• Transfer options after one year in post, allowing for continuous development of skills and knowledge in different Adult Social Care settings
• Staff discount scheme that offers access to great savings including discounts with major supermarket chains and high street retailers
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides free, confidential, counselling and advice for employees, available 24 hours a day, online and by telephone.
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Links to employee networks such as Prism (LGBT+) network and the Young Employees Network.
• Gloucestershire Salary Sacrifice Green Car Scheme (T&C's apply)

We’re closer than you think:

We are an easy commute from many locations, view our commuting times map to see what we mean. However, we understand that commuting isn’t for everyone, so if you are in the process of relocating, why not email us to discuss opportunities further.

Applying:

To start your journey with us, click ‘Apply’ today!

Or to arrange an informal discussion with the Team Manager, please email ASCrecruitment@gloucestershire.gov.uk for a convenient time for a call back.

Please write your application with consideration for the criteria in the Job Description. This should include examples of why you should be considered and the experience, skills and knowledge that you would bring to the post. You will find a link below to our Job Description.

Please indicate in your personal statement whether you are applying for the role as a full time position or as part time job share. 

Additional Information

Please note that sponsorships are not on offer for this position.

To access the Job Profile for this role, please follow the link below:

Practice Development Social Worker Job Profile

This position is subject to a DBS check.

Gloucestershire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire’s diverse communities.  Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential.

It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a ‘customer facing role’ must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.