Principal Social Worker & Social Work Academy Lead
Location: Wokingham
Salary: £73,452 - £80,878 (plus additional £3k Market Supplement)
Are you passionate about shaping the future of social work and driving best practice? We’re looking for an experienced leader to head up our Social Work Academy and champion excellence across Children’s Services.
In response to the national reforms, Wokingham are going through a period of transformation, reimagining the way that we deliver our services to children and families. This means that you will be joining us at an exciting time as we redesign our enhanced offer in Wokingham. This is a unique & pivotal moment to join us Wokingham, as we refresh our structure to strengthen our service and reinforce better outcomes for Children & Families.
The PSW & Head of Academy post will directly manage a team of skilled, passionate and experienced Practice Consultants, alongside Practice, Training and Retention professionals within the Academy.
As the Head of Academy & Principal Social Worker, you will:
1. Provide strategic leadership and management of the Social Work Academy, ensuring high standards of practice and achievement of key performance targets.
2. Deliver innovative programs to recruit, train, and develop newly qualified and trainee social workers, as well as specialist staff supporting children with SEND.
3. Act as Wokingham’s Principal Social Worker, advocating for social work locally and nationally, and championing best practice across the council.
4. Lead the implementation of Wokingham’s social work practice model which is systemic relational practice, ensuring staff deliver effective interventions for children and families.
5. Oversee training and development initiatives that equip our workforce with the skills and knowledge to safeguard children and promote positive outcomes.
6. Contribute to quality assurance, continuous improvement, and service planning alongside other Service Managers and Heads of Service.
7. Manage resources and budgets effectively, ensuring compliance with legislation, policy, and council procedures.
8. Participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota (currently one week in six).
This is a unique opportunity to influence practice at a strategic level, drive innovation, and make a real difference for children and families.
What we can offer you:
9. A competitive salary: £73,452 - £80,878 (plus additional £3k market supplement)
10. Basic annual leave of 31 days, rising to 36 days with continuous service
11. On-site Gym access
12. Access to EAP (Employee Assistance Programme)
13. Local & national discounts
14. Access to Car Scheme in partnership with Tusker
15. Enhanced Local Government Pension Scheme
All applications must be submitted in full online.
For more information or if you would like to have an informal discussion with regards to this vacancy, please contact either:
Carrie Mark, Service Director Practice Improvement Quality:
Or
Alix Williams, Recruitment & Retention Specialist for Children’s Social Care: