Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,
This is a fixed-term contract with a duration of 24 months.
Join Sandwell's forward thinking Social Work Academy Team as an Advanced Practitioner – Practice Development, where you will play a vital role in shaping Social Work practice. From supporting and assessing Social Work apprentices to driving continuous practice improvement through our Quality Assurance framework to delivering learning and development opportunities across the service, you will be at the centre of an ambitious and inclusive organisation committed to excellence.
You'll work alongside dedicated professionals who share your commitment to providing outstanding care and support to those who need it most.
About the Role: This is your opportunity to innovate, play a pivotal role in shaping practice development and nurture future generations of social workers. You will work alongside two other Advanced Practitioner – Practice Development colleagues in the forward thinking and dedicated Social Work Academy (SWA) Team led by the Principal Social Worker.
In this rewarding role you will have the opportunity:
To supervise, support, teach and assess social work students on placement, degree social work apprentice students and Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) in their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) and social workers undertaking Practice educator training in line with the relevant national frameworks, taking responsibility for the overall management of these learning and development programmes. This will include developing and delivering specific training (eg. ASYE and student workshops) and liaising with HEIs in the region.
To teach wider groups of staff about specific topics, development and CPD as part of the Principal Social Worker's work plan. To work with the Principal Social Worker /budget holder to deliver learning and development and other services within available resources and to support the generation of income through student placements.
Have a significant role in practice development, practice improvement and practice learning across the organisation. This includes supporting staff to grow, develop and become Good and Outstanding practitioners.
You will contribute to policy development and training around Quality Assurance and audits. You will manage the auditing process and lead on embedding the Quality Assurance Framework across the service.
You will work collaboratively with Social Workers, Senior Social Workers and Practitioners, as well as the Students and Newly Qualified staff within their services.
You will be a champion of good practice initiatives contributing to both recruitment and retention of our social work workforce and good quality.
To undertake specific duties and responsibilities determined by the Principal Social Worker and senior managers to enable the team and wider organisation to achieve its goals and objectives. To work with the Principal Social Worker to ensure effective functioning of the team in all operational matters and to deputise for the Principal Social Worker in specific areas.
To proactively seek to promote partnership working and integration within and outside of the council.
To support staff and act as a consultant in areas of complex practice.
To undertake a small amount of direct case work in complex situations for example joint working complex MCA assessments or safeguarding work, which is allocated to NQSWs, students and apprentices, joint visits to support social workers and BIA assessments as part of the DoLS rota.
You Must:
Have a Social Work qualification with a minimum of 3 years' experience as a qualified social worker, some of which should be in an Adult Social Care setting. Have a current SWE registration.
Have Practice Educator Post qualifying award – Stage 2 or equivalent in line with the Practice Educators Standards for Social Work and SWE Professional Standards with a minimum of 2 years' experience as a Practice Educator supporting and assessing students and NQSWs. Be able to act as a PEPS mentor and assessor.
Have completed safeguarding adults training.
Pass an Enhanced Disclosing and Barring Service check for both Adults and Children.
Be able and willing to travel around the borough and out of borough. Be able and willing to attend meetings of out county and at other locations across the borough including representing Sandwell ASC at regional meetings.
Be able to drive (unless the requirements of the Equality Act apply in which case the ability to travel across and outside the borough at short notice will be required). It may be a requirement of the post that you use a vehicle for undertaking visits, including transportation of clients or small items of equipment.
Be willing to complete further training.
Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to work with changing and conflicting demands. Be willing to work some unsocial hours as required.
It is desirable for you to have a Best Interest Assessor qualification or be willing to train and support with Mental Capacity Training and Assessments.
You will:
Have experience of working to develop and improving performance and social work practice. Demonstrate high standards of professional practice and lead by example. Demonstrate experience of being able to lead, manage, motivate and support staff.
Be able to undertake Quality Assurance work in general, including case file audits, safeguarding audits, SILP, DHR screening and Practice Reviews.
Be a creative thinker who has the ability to influence and constructively challenge the thinking and actions of others who may be more senior. Have a reflective and analytical approach to working with individuals and to problem solving.
Lead the vision for change with commitment and tenacity, putting a positive view on situations and focusing on what can be achieved. Create a culture of learning that encourages innovation and flexibility.
Have excellent time management skills with a proven ability to prioritise work to meet deadlines and maintain effective organisational systems.
Demonstrate experience with working in a setting with coordinator, leadership and supervisory responsibility. Have the ability to work as part of a team and in partnership with others.
Have experience of partnership working locally, regionally and nationally.
Have strong interpersonal and communication skills. Have the ability to communicate effectively with service users, internal colleagues, senior managers and stakeholders. Have the ability to influence others through positive relationships, working well with others at all levels within and outside of the organisation. Have the ability to present complex information verbally, in writing or numerical form to a high standard to a variety of audiences.
Have strong IT skills and confidence inputting and storing data digitally, producing reports, PowerPoint presentations and navigating IT systems.
Demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development and knowledge and experience of strength-based and asset-based practice and co-production.
Have knowledge and understanding of relevant legislative and regulatory framework and Government initiatives relating to your service area, including safeguarding, and the needs of vulnerable adults, mental capacity assessments, BIA role and training, PEPS 2 standards and the various social work qualifying programmes.
Have knowledge of the principles and responsibility of information sharing and data protection in line with legislation.
An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.
To apply please download the attached application form at the bottom of this advert and return to:
We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to their advertised date if we receive a large number of applications. Therefore, you are strongly advised to complete and return your application as soon as possible. When completing your application please refer to the supporting documents attached.
If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application, or have experienced a problem whilst applying for a position, please contact Rachel Smith on or via e-mail to:
For more information about working for Sandwell Council, our recruitment process and our offer to you please visit
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