Social Work Practice Educator
Job Description
Social Work in Cornwall
Make a difference - Children's Social Work in Cornwall
'Cornwall's ambitious, outward-facing senior leadership team promotes a strong culture of learning and development. It has made excellent use of learning from research, best practice and peer reviews.'
'Social workers have a very good understanding of the children they work with; they visit them regularly and ensure that their needs are holistically well considered'
'Staff development is delivered through an effective and well-targeted workforce development framework. Staff morale is high.'
OFSTED 2019 - OUTSTANDING GRADING
The Service & Team:
Social workers make a real difference to the lives of children in Cornwall. Cornwall Council achieved Outstanding status in 2019 through raising the status and expertise of its social workers and wider social care practitioners. This must be sustained through an ongoing commitment to practice development and access to a core curriculum of evidence based practice, including an on line library of the latest research, procedures and practice guidance.
The high morale of children's social workers in Cornwall has been achieved through a coherent and robust Career and Qualification Pathway from training, through the assessed and supported year in employment for newly qualified social workers up to advanced practitioner status. Progression is based on undertaking professional development, demonstrating learning in practice and consistent performance in improving outcomes for children.
The Role:
We are looking for a Practice Educator to join our established team of Practice Educators as part of our Foundation for Practice. Full time and part time positions available, minimum 3 days a week.
Practice Educators are professional social work educators with expert knowledge in the area of professional practice education.
- They lead on developing practice in line with the latest research, policy and legislation. They take the lead in a specified service area working with Advanced Practitioners to develop a service based learning culture.
- They undertake direct practice with children and young people to demonstrate their professional capabilities and to model how practice learning is applied in practice.
- They facilitate and assess the learning and development of others (for example managing a number of students on qualifying programmes, NQSWs undertaking ASYE, undertaking direct research or supporting professionals undertaking CPD) to develop their knowledge, skills, values and practice.
- They facilitate work place learning by positively managing the day to day interface between providers of education and training and workplace situations, by contributing to arrangements for selection, curriculum delivery, assessment and evaluation. They draw on and contribute to contemporary research and educational practice. They contribute to workforce development strategies in the agency and/or in a university setting.
- They provide advice and consultation on the Career and Qualification Pathway for Social Workers, Trainees and Students.
- They contribute to the recruitment and selection of the workforce and to the evaluation of local and national strategy.
You will need to hold a Social Work Degree, Social Work Qualification Dip.SW or equivalent and be SWE Registered. Additionally, you should hold or be working towards the Practice Teaching Award or equivalent in line with PEPS Stage 2 and have experience of supporting Social Work students/trainees and/or newly qualified social workers.
Further information about our teams is available here.
This is a public/customer-facing role, where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies.
This position will be subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure check.
What you'll need to succeed:
You will be a social worker registered with Social Work England who will have:
- Extensive experience working within a social care environment
- Professional capability in line with an experienced practitioner under the terms of the PCF and a proven track record in Social Work practice.
- High-level written and verbal communication skills to build effective professional relationships with families and other professionals
- Knowledge and understanding of the legislation, models and theories relevant to children's social work, and the ability to evidence how you have applied your learning to your practice
- Experience in providing practice education and working within the Practice Education Professional Standards
- Hold or be working towards the Practice Teaching Award or equivalent in line with PEPS Stage 2.
- Experience of supporting Social Work students/trainees and/or newly qualified Social Workers.
If your experience as a social worker is within another sector (such as Adult Social Care or the Voluntary sector), we provide additional support to transition into children and families social work through a supported induction period.
What you'll get in return:
We actively encourage and enable our practitioners to progress and reward them for their commitment and expertise. If you are committed to continuing professional development, can demonstrate learning in your practice and in improved outcomes for the children you help and protect, we will provide you with the career options and remuneration that match your expertise. We support our social workers to stay in front line practice as advanced practitioners or move to front line management, both of which attract the same pay.
As part of our commitment to outstanding practice, we have put in place a comprehensive core curriculum and career and qualification pathway for our social workers to develop their knowledge and skills to deliver the most effective social work intervention with children and families.
Cornwall is one of the best places in the country to live, work and bring up a family. It's location and landscape offer unique opportunities for a healthier, happier way of life. We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff and we recognise that resilient Social Workers need a good work/life balance as well as supportive leadership and support in the workplace.
In recognition of the vital contribution you make, we offer an attractive package of benefits including:
- A generous relocation package
- An individualised induction to meet your specific needs and learning
- An excellent core curriculum to support your ongoing development with a high-quality programme of evidence-based learning and development to enhance skills and practice.
- An outstanding career and qualification pathway, recognised by Ofsted as a foundation of Cornwall's good practice, which will support your progression.
- Support from our dedicated Practice Educators throughout your progression pathway
- Regular, high-quality case and reflective supervision
- Supportive management and leadership
- Support to access temporary accommodation if moving from outside of Cornwall
- Access to a Cornwall Council lease car
- 26 days paid annual leave per year (rising with length of service), plus bank holidays
- Flexible working opportunities, including part-time hours and homeworking
- A license to access Community Care Inform and Research in Practice.
- Payment of your Social Work England registration fees.
- A competitive starting salary and the opportunity to increase your pay further as you progress
