Description
Job Description & Person Specification >
Be the Change. Shape the Future.
Torbay Council is excited to welcome applications for the new position of a Practice Development Advisor within our dynamic Learning Academy, Children’s Services. This is a full-time post based in Torbay, offered at Grade K, with hybrid working options available. If you are ready to inspire emerging social work professionals and drive excellence in practice, this opportunity could be for you.
Main Responsibilities
* Provide dedicated support to Torbay’s Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme, ensuring newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) have the guidance they need to succeed.
* Mentor, support, and assess social work students and apprentices, helping them to develop their skills and confidence.
* Support the co-ordination of student placements.
* Design and deliver engaging, impactful learning experiences for learners at various stages in their careers.
* Champion continuous professional development and contribute to ongoing service improvement initiatives.
* Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to help shape the strategic direction of learning within Children’s Services to include the National reforms.
Candidate Requirements:
* Hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
* Possess a practice educator qualification (PEPS 2 level or equivalent).
* Demonstrate experience in practice education, including mentoring and supporting learners.
* Bring substantial practice experience, knowledge, and skills in children’s social work.
* Show a strong commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and safeguarding.
* Exhibit excellent communication, coaching, and facilitation abilities.
* Have the motivation and genuine passion for improving outcomes for the children and families of Torbay.
* Be familiar with the national reforms in children’s social work.
Why Choose Torbay?
* Join a forward-thinking, relational, and people-oriented council.
* Benefit from flexible hybrid working arrangements and a supportive team culture.
* Help build a workforce that’s confident, resilient, and ready to make a difference to the children and families of Torbay.
* Fantastic employee benefits.
This post meets the requirements for an Enhanced Criminal Record Check. This will show spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions which have not been filtered in line with legislation, plus any information held by local Police that is considered relevant to the role.
If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser:
https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/practice-development-advisor/
For an informal chat please contact Sarah Rogers on 01803207195 or sarah.rogers@torbay.gov.uk.
Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 24th November 2025.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.
Skills
Essential:
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both face to face and via digital media.
* Ability to contribute to the design and delivery of engaging learning and development content.
* Skilled in coaching, mentoring and performance assessment of professionals that they do not line manage.
* Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and identify creative, strengths-based solutions.
* Able to critically reflect and analyse own work and that of others.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Knowledge
Essential:
* Skilled and experienced in social work practice and social work practice education.
* In-depth knowledge of local and national reforms and up to date research.
* Understanding of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) framework.
* Knowledge of children’s social care legislation and policy.
* Ability to evaluate practice, identify learning needs, and contribute to service improvement.
Experience & Qualifications
Essential:
* Post qualification experience as a social worker including extensive knowledge in child development, child safeguarding and relevant policy and legislation.
* Experience supervising, supporting and assessing professional learners to include social work students and/or NQSWs.
* Experience of design and delivery of engaging learning and development content.
* Commitment to evidence of applying evidence informed practice approaches.
Please review the available pages within the careers site .
A list of employer benefits can be found here .