Effective Practice Academy Practitioners (Advanced Social Work Practitioner)

The job itself

A great and exciting opportunity has arisen within the Participation, Innovation and Improvement portfolio for two permanent advanced social work practitioners, whose role it will be to mentor and support colleagues through the newly created and developing Effective Practice Academy. These are critical posts that will be key in driving forward the work of the Academy for the workforce across Children and Young People Support and Safeguarding Service (CYPSSS), including Early Help and Prevention Portfolio. The service aspiration is to support the wider Children, Families and School Directorate as the service develops and evolves.

The Effective Practice Academy Practitioners will support the workforce in all the faculties that have been created within the Effective Practice Academy – this will include the development, delivery and embedding of functions linked to a) induction, b) students and newly qualified social workers, c) inspirating leadership programmes across all levels of the workforce and d) specific areas such as SEND, Residential Care, Foster Care, as well as a local response offer. This newly created role forms part of our continued improvement activity in driving strength based and relational based practice in our work with children, young people and their networks. You will be supported by our Effective Practice, Learning and Development Manager and our Effective Practice Academy Manager. The main priorities of the Effective Practice Academy supported by the Effective Practice Academy Practitioners roles are to:

• Support the workforce to develop themselves and their careers by refreshing their skills and developing them through progression and into potential new roles
• Ensure all staff have up to date knowledge and skills to fulfil their roles
• Drive cultural change and develop a shared language and values for working with children and families across East Riding of Yorkshire Council footprint
• Drive up and help maintain professional standards
• Build effective leadership skills and capacity across the practice system to lead and sustain change
• Keep abreast of new practice and bring learning into practice

These posts are part of a wider commitment by the Children, Families and Schools Directorate to support the practice system to deliver impact and focused outcomes for our children, young people and their networks via building a sustainable foundation of support to our holistic workforce. This is a great opportunity to be part of a aspirational and forward thinking Portfolio with a priority of ensuring the workforce are equipped with the skills, experience and knowledge to promote and enable change.

The post holder will be line managed by the Effective Practice Academy Manager and will work closely with the Principal Children and Families Social Worker and the Principal Practice Lead in ensuring that all activity complements with the recently launched Model of Practice. The post holder will also work closely with colleagues within the Effective Practice, Learning and Development service and with colleagues across the wider Children, Families and Schools Directorate.

The Office Base for this role will be County Hall, Beverley although will work across the East Riding of Yorkshire footprint alongside the Heads of Service within the service. Working arrangements will be hybrid and working days are Monday to Friday.

Our model

‘You can, I can, We can’

We have created a bespoke practice model that reflects and connects our vision, our value base and our behaviour as one East Riding of Yorkshire approach to working with children, young people and their families, which is nurtured and grown from within East Riding of Yorkshire CYPSSS and owned by our workforce.

We remain committed to Signs of Safety as a practice framework, but this will be set within a much wider, values based, model of practice that clearly connects Signs of Safety much more clearly with the East Riding value base, and our overall approach to making and sustaining relationships with children, families and communities.

Without a well embedded model, there is nothing to centre our practice on to ensure that, while the work may be different, all our teams are grounded in the same values, beliefs, theories and approaches. Having a well-developed practice model helps to create a common language for the service and enables everyone to understand how we go about doing the right things, in the right way and for the right reasons for children and their families.

The right candidate

We are looking for an energetic, creative and experienced social worker who can demonstrate tenacity and enthusiasm in making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people through the support offered to colleagues in all areas of practice. You will have proven ability of supporting your colleagues and will be able to evidence that you meet the criteria of Advanced Social Worker.

You will have an in depth understanding and experience of working with children, young people and their networks and experiences of working within a children’s social care setting, as well as a thorough knowledge of legislative frameworks and demonstrable commitment to the values of family involvement, relational approaches and empowerment.

We are a small team and positive relationships are valued. Therefore, it is essential that the post holder is able to work effectively with others with a flexible and adaptable approach in a relational based approach – always demonstrating their commitment to working to the highest possible standards whilst remaining at all times child centred.You will have excellent written and oral communication skills which will enable you to support and you will be able to demonstrate a high level of motivation and the ability to work independently, with skills in working within timescales and with conflicting priorities.

If you are meet all of these qualities, have the right value base, and are an innovative leader, then what are you waiting for? Apply now and make a difference.

Want to know more?

Get in touch for more information.

Name

Paul Elliott

Role

Head of Service

Email

paul.elliott@eastriding.gov.uk

Phone

07976072792

Additional information

Remote working

The Council offers many remote working opportunities as part of our commitment to providing flexibility wherever possible for our employees.

Pay and reward

The Council is undertaking a review of pay and reward as part of its ambitions to attract and retain employees by having effective pay and development structures in place to support modern ways of working and to support the provision of Council services which meet local priorities. Please note that the future terms and conditions of this post may change following the outcome of this review.

Internal Candidates

If you already work for the council and have an Employee Self Service (ESS) account, please login to apply online using your ESS username and password.

Travel

Some travel across East Riding of Yorkshire may be required, applicants must be able to transport themselves.

DBS/Medical check

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS clearance check.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At East Riding of Yorkshire Council we value everyone, find out what we are doing for equality, diversity and inclusion.

Read important information for applicants