Social Work Consultant

>Are you an experienced children and families social worker ready to progress your career and step into a management role? Are you passionate about working with children and families? This could be the post for you! WHAT IS INVOLVED? As Social Work Consultant you will have a focus on maintaining a nurturing learning culture and promoting relational, strengths based, trauma aware practise. You will:

• Work in partnership with the team manager to manage a team which carries out meaningful and rewarding work which achieves the best outcomes for children.
• Play a key role in developing the practice of front-line social care practitioners by developing, maintaining and championing expertise in specific areas of work with children and families; by driving excellent practice based on research evidence and professional experience; and, by supporting achievement of improved outcomes for vulnerable children and their families.
• Build and maintain successful working relationships with colleagues from a wide range of agencies., Over the coming months we will be implementing changes to respond to the Department for Education's
Our new Family Help teams will provide support to families who need our help, whether that that is targeted early help, child in need or child protection. The teams will also work with PLO and care proceedings. These teams will be able to respond when the needs of the family change. As Social Work Consultant you will become an Assistant Practice Manager (social work qualified) and report to a Practice Manager (social work qualified). We have already matched our existing Social Work Consultants to their new posts, so we know that your new post will be in our Family Help East 1 team based at Sherburn. If you would like to know more about our plans or see copies of the new job descriptions please contact our Workforce Transformation and Development Manager Hazel Ostle by e-mail at HOW WILL I BE SUPPORTED? We are passionate about social work in County Durham. We are committed to providing a culture where good practice can flourish. We will ensure you are highly supported. You will benefit from high quality professional supervision, a great induction, and access to our really strong learning and development offer. We encourage flexible working to achieve a good work-life balance. You can find out more about social work in Durham


• Be a social worker with significant experience of work with children, young people and families.
• Have experience of championing and commending high quality practice, managing risk and building respectful partnerships.
• Be a wonderful communicator with experience of building positive relationships with children, young people and families and nurturing other professionals.
You can read more about the experience, skills and personal qualities we are looking for in the attached person specification. If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years' continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website This post is eligible for a recruitment/retention allowance of £2,500 over 12 months (pro-rata for part time workers). Payments are made in equal instalments across a 12-month period alongside your pay. The allowances are subject to tax, National Insurance and pension contributions. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.