Job Description

Are you an experienced social worker ready to progress your career and step into a role in supporting our Newly Qualified Social Workers, modelling exceptional practice that will inspire and develop their skills at this important stage of their careers?
We are looking for an Enhanced Social Work Practitioner to join our first team transforming the way we work with children, young people and families.
Hugely rewarding and full of variety and challenge - this could be the right role for you!
HOW WILL THE TEAM BE WORKING?
In Durham we are keen to explore a new way of working. As the National Framework and the principles of Working Together describe, we want to shift the dial to support more children to stay safely with their families and see better outcomes. In this role you will be helping us try out a new approach to Family Help, with an emphasis on working collaboratively with the whole family, offering a clear plan and meaningful support to prevent escalation and improve outcomes. Your feedback will be hugely important in helping us to keep developing our approach.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE ROLE?
In addition to holding a reduced caseload, you will use your experience and knowledge to play a key role as mentor to our Newly Qualified Social Workers in their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
As a mentor you will:

• Provide advice and guidance to our Newly Qualified Social Workers to help them build their confidence, resilience, knowledge, and skills in line with the post qualifying standards.

• Plan and facilitate sessions that encourage our Newly Qualified Social Workers to reflect, develop multiple hypotheses and enable peer challenge and critical reflection in decision-making. Sessions will incorporate the Signs of Safety practice model and trauma informed relational practice.

• Provide advice and guidance to Newly Qualified Social Workers on their cases and co-working more complex cases ensuring this reflection is evident on the child's record and improves outcomes for the child.

• Work closely with the Practice Leads in our Social Work Academy and the Team Manager to ensure that the Newly Qualified Social Workers have appropriate caseloads in terms of number and complexity, and that their ASYE progresses well.

WHAT DO OFSTED SAY ABOUT US?
You will be joining us at a fantastic time. Inspectors have just judged our Children's Services as outstanding. You can read the full report here
Inspectors said that:

• "There is an unwavering corporate commitment to improving and enriching the lives of children and their families evidenced by the significant and sustained investment in children's services. This has enabled the development of a wide range of very successful initiatives that are having a positive impact on children and their families, whatever their level of need."

• "The focus on keeping children at the heart of everything has led to the development of highly effective services that are having a lasting impact on the lives of many children, particularly children in care and care leavers. Children are influential in the development of the service. Staff at all levels are valued and very well supported, resulting in a positive culture where workers can practise safely and make a positive impact on children's lives."

• "Social workers told inspectors that Durham is a great place to work. Their words and actions convey a sense of belonging and they view Durham as their employer of choice."

HOW WILL I BE SUPPORTED?
We are passionate about social work in County Durham. We are committed to providing a culture where good practice can flourish.
We will ensure you are highly supported. You will benefit from high quality professional supervision, a great induction, and access to our really strong learning and development offer. When you are ready to take your next step our aspiring managers programme "rising stars" will be there for you.
We encourage flexible working to achieve a good work-life balance.
You can find out more about social work in Durham here:
REWARDS AND BENEFITS
We offer generous rewards and benefits that are designed to help you perform at your best:

• Competitive salaries.

• 27 days holiday per year rising to 32 days after five years continuous local government service, and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.

• We encourage excellent work/life balance through schemes including job sharing, compressed hours and flexi-time (allowing up to 13 flexi days per year).

• Hybrid working (2 days in the workplace and 3 days at home/remote).

• Excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Plus, top up options - Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme and standard AVC scheme for members of the LGPS.

• Wellbeing Portal and access to an Employee Assist Scheme.

• Wide range of learning and development opportunities including professional qualifications, coaching and mentoring.

• Employee Benefits Portal and Lifestyle Savings Scheme (discounts across a host of major retailers).

• Discounted DCC gym membership.

• Staff networks run by staff for our staff, including Race Equality and Diversity, Disability, LGBT+, Armed Forces, Carers, Menopause and Neurodiversity.

• Trade Union membership.

• A range of other salary sacrifice schemes such as car leasing.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. Take a closer look:
Removal, lodging and separation expenses may be available to you if at the time of application for appointment your place of residence is outside the administrative area of County Durham and more than 30 miles in a straight line from our administrative centre, along with a number of other criteria for eligibility.
WHAT WILL I NEED?
For this role you will need a degree in social work, or equivalent social work qualification, a current Social Work England Registration, and a commitment to work towards Practice assessor qualification PA1 and 2 in line with skills for care good practice. You will also need:

• Significant experience of social work with children, young people and their families

• Experience of using evidence-based practice to devise effective interventions

• Knowledge and experience of implementing legislation and national standards relevant to the role

• Ability to implement a range of social work theories relevant to the role

• Commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people, and families

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.
If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.
READY TO APPLY?
We encourage you to contact Anne Middleton (Service Manager) for an informal conversation about the post before you apply. You can email Anne at Anne.Middleton@durham.gov.uk
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise that a diverse, talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services.
We are committed to ensuring that our employment policies and processes are fair and equitable to all. We welcome job applications from everyone, and successful candidates are considered only on their skills and ability to do the job.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and provide support throughout the recruitment process.
Take a closer look:
INTERVIEWS
Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 21 July.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
HOW TO APPLY
In line with the County Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted on-line via the Northeast Jobs portal.
Please use the 'Person Specification' section of your application form to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.
If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact the Recruitment Team via email RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk or telephone 03000 262727.
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