Job profile

Remarkable Social Workers work for Outstanding Leaders in Wakefield

Here are just some of the things you can expect when working for Wakefield Council:

• Attractive salary
• Manageable caseload
• Flexible working
• Small and Supportive Teams
• Permanent Service/Team Managers
• Excellent Learning and Development opportunities

There has been a significant investment in establishing Advanced Social Work Practitioners posts to support our practice leadership ambitions. We have a vacancy for an Advanced Social Work Practitioner post, available for the right candidate to join our services within the Castleford / Pontefract Locality Team. This opportunity would suit an experienced Social Work practitioner considering future management or practice development role.

Ofsted inspectors recently acknowledged that in Wakefield children and young people “are at the centre of practice”. We know our social workers are the key to achieving this.

We recognise the challenges for social workers – in the complexity of the role a and understand the importance of retaining connectivity and providing staff with the right support, tools, and skills so that they can thrive. In Wakefield, you are provided with the space and resources to meet safely with team members, with families and children to ensure that you feel safe, but also without sacrificing the essential elements of your role.

It’s this ethos that has allowed us to build ‘an environment where good and effective social work is flourishing’ and where staff ‘without exception’ are ‘very enthusiastic about working for Wakefield’.

What will be expected from Wakefield?

As an Advanced Social Work Practitioner (ASWP) you will be a leader in delivering excellent social work practice within our developing multi-agency teams. You will have a proven track record in achieving the highest standards of assessment, planning and intervention in complex casework. As the most senior practitioner within your team, you will hold a caseload of the most challenging cases, whilst also mentoring and coaching other members of the team, including helping newly qualified social workers to develop their skills, confidence and successfully complete their assessed year in practice.

You need to be passionate practice leader, able to demonstrate excellence in your own practice whilst also helping others to excel. This post will provide the opportunity for you to develop skills in providing formal learning sessions for others, develop quality assurance, coaching and supervisory skills whilst maintaining a practice focus.

What I might be doing?

• You will manage a complex workload with the support of senior colleagues, following the directorate and other agency policies and procedures in a multi-agency context
• Advanced Practitioners will have a permanently reduced caseload to enable the time and focus required to also focus on other developmental tasks (below).
• You will be required to develop, support and provide guidance to social work colleagues, including support workers and social work students in line with service requirements.
• To undertake the role of the Lead Professional in complex statutory cases requiring a qualified social worker.
• You will facilitate or chair a range of meetings, including the “team around” and “family network” meetings and team-based learning sessions.
• You will work with children and young people, families, carers and communities to help them make informed choices and decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
• You will participate in and deliver training and development activities that ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development both for you and colleagues across the organisation.

Essential requirements:

• Here we’re looking for only the best social workers – those with the skills, motivation, and passion to help us move forwards. You must also have the following:
• BA or MA in Social Work, Dip in Social Work, or equivalent recognised by the Central Council for Education & Training in Social Work and registered with Social Work England.
• A qualified and experienced social worker, with a proven track record in achieving the highest standards of practice in complex casework.
• Able to carry out your role and responsibilities well whilst holding a complex case load and supporting our growing number of newly-qualified social workers.
• An individual who can develop and maintain highly effective relationships with colleagues in order to co-work cases and assist with their learning and development.
• You will be Social Work England Registered.

What can I expect?

• We have strong and supportive teams with effective leadership. We have experienced permanent managers who are committed to promoting your development through effective quality reflective supervision.
• Advanced Practitioners will have a permanently reduced caseload of no more than 15 cases.
• There is an established Practice Development Forum dedicated to supporting the role within Wakefield
• The “outstanding leadership” in Wakefield, paired with our “well-resourced, innovative Learning Academy”, will also further allow you to benefit from excellent support, training, and development.
• Ofsted found strength in our learning offer and noted Wakefield as being an authority that ‘excels as a learning organisation’ and we are proud of our progression strategy that enables you to continue to grow, should you choose to join us in Wakefield.

For further information or a discussion please contact:

Joanne Brown on joannebrown@wakefield.gov.uk