Social Work Apprentice

Together, we're shaping children's social care for the future. Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire. In our Children, Education, & Families directorate, we're committed to delivering lasting change, by helping the children, young people, and families of Oxfordshire to thrive. We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths and this is reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach. We've been consistently rated as "good" by Ofsted, but we are not content with that; we are ambitious and want to do even better! We're a financially stable local authority which is committed to investing in Children, Education, and Families, to ensure that we have the resources we need to make a real difference to the families we work with - including successful operation of our transformational model Family Solutions Plus (FSP). We are offering a trainee role where successful candidates will complete a social work degree apprenticeship over three years. During this time, you will gain practical work experience while studying towards an honours degree, meeting the requirements of the apprenticeship programme. This includes:

• Working towards an honours degree with Buckinghamshire New University in line with the Social Work Apprenticeship Degree Standard.
• Supporting children, young people, and their families to achieve positive outcomes and promote welfare, in accordance with Oxfordshire County Council's values, practice standards, and relevant legislation.
• This is your opportunity to ensure that the child is at the heart of all interactions with children, families, other professionals, and decision-making processes. The post holder will work alongside qualified workers in the delivery of statutory interventions (e.g. Child in Need, Child Protection and Children We Care For) by assessing and supporting children and young people's needs, including taking appropriate actions to address emerging safeguarding concerns.
  
  You're free-thinking and brave, and that sets you apart. You'll be supportive and energised; you don't accept the norm if it can be done better - finding answers through exploration and courage. Just as importantly, you will embody our values in everything you do.
Fundamentally, you'll be passionate about delivering stand-out public services, because we're here to make every moment the best it can be for the residents of Oxfordshire.,
• Must be 18 or over to apply
• Must have been a resident in the UK for at least 3 years
• Level 2 qualification, including GCSEs in Maths and English at grade C/4 or equivalent and be in possession of the original certificates
• A commitment to personal and professional development, including the ability and willingness to complete the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship Standard
• Must be able to drive or access a variety of locations, such as those across Oxfordshire
• Will not have started another social work degree course already and have earned credits.
  
  Together, we're the moment makers and we're focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, you'll look around and say, "I make a difference". Because we're all creating lasting change to people's lives in Oxfordshire.
Every day you'll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. We're not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives. We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself - while raising the bar for the future of children's social care., The Oxfordshire Way Delivering social care in exciting new ways. Here in Oxfordshire, we are proud that we deliver social care differently. Our vision, the Oxfordshire Way, is to help people say fit, healthy and independent in their communities for as long as possible. We keep the people we support at the heart of every decision. And that works. By listening to them and building on the positives in their lives, we can make sure they get what they need in a way that works for them. Children's Services Changing the way services for children and young people are delivered. We want Oxfordshire to be a great place for children and young people to grow up and have the opportunity to become everything they want to be. We need to keep making a difference for every child, young person, family and carer in Oxfordshire and we're looking for new colleagues who can join us. Children's social care We've set a new direction for the services that support children, young people, and families in the county - with partnership working at its heart. We've got an ambitious road ahead, and we need the right talent to help us. Working in children's social care | Oxfordshire County Council What it's like to be a children's social worker | Oxfordshire County Council (youtube.com) Learn more about Families Solutions Plus (FSP): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5DZAlfhCRM Children's homes Our three existing children's homes are all OFSTED-rated good and have some aspects that have been rated good or outstanding. Join us from the start as we open four new homes for some of our most vulnerable children later this year. New children's homes jobs | Oxfordshire County Council If you are passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of children and families, we invite you to explore the opportunities available at Oxfordshire County Council - Children's Services. Together, we can build a brighter future for the children of Oxfordshire.

Successful candidates will need to pass both our recruitment process and the selection process through Buckinghamshire New University. This will include interviews, a written task, a Disclosure and Barring Service check and an occupational health check. Rewards and benefits
• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Up to 33 day's holiday p.a. plus bank holidays
• Option to 'buy' additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer's contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development., Our commitment to:
Flexible Working We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. Follow us on Social Media Stay up-to-date with the latest news and featured jobs from Oxfordshire County Council by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk, When you work for us, you'll get access to a wide range of exciting benefits. Whether it's career opportunities, coaching and mentoring or working in a way that suits your life, we have something to help. Develop your career. During your career with us you'll get plenty of chances to develop your skills. Find out more about how you can grow and progress. Our purpose - We're focused on delivering high-quality services to Oxfordshire's diverse communities. How we work - Our agile working package means you'll be able to strike the perfect balance between home and work. Your career journey - With a range of different support opportunities, you'll be able to grow and progress in your job. Financial perks - You'll enjoy competitive rates of pay, a great pension scheme and a host of other helpful financial benefits. Family friendly - Whatever their age, we'll make sure you can put your family commitments first. Rewards and recognition - With savings on your favourite retail offers and our staff recognition scheme, you'll be rewarded for the great job you do. Health and wellbeing - We'll give you plenty of opportunities to make sure your health and wellbeing is in tip-top shape.