Advanced Practitioner Practice Development (Adults)

Somerset Council; Taunton; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave entitlement

Job summary

Somerset Council is seeking an Advanced Practitioner Development for Adults to lead high-quality social work practice within our Learning Disabilities Service. You will supervise, coach and support Social Workers, students and Newly Qualified Social Workers, while driving practice improvement and workforce development.

Role is countywide with base locations in Yeovil, Taunton, Bridgwater or Mendip; starting salary £43,149 rising to £47,665, full-time 37 hours weekly, 30 days annual leave.

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
• Two years post-qualifying experience or more.
• Experience supervising learners (students or NQSWs).
• Holding/working towards Practice Education Professional Standards (PEPs).
• Strong analytical, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels in a positive, person-centred way.
• Good IT skills and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to travel across Somerset by vehicle to various locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage teams, with operations, planning, HR, staff development and financial oversight.
• Prepare development reviews and induction programmes for staff.
• Assess learners' ability to apply theory and legislation in practice.
• Develop students' practice skills and uphold professional standards.
• Provide fortnightly supervision and ongoing support to students.
• Lead local and national service developments and quality assurance initiatives.
• Provide advanced decision-making and guidance to the workforce on practice issues.
• Coach and mentor social care staff through joint-working and case discussions.
• Collaborate with partners to support an integrated, high-quality service.

Skills

Social work leadership

Supervisory experience

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Communication (written & oral)

IT systems proficiency

Education

Social Work qualification (Degree, DipSW or CQSW)

Social Work England registration

PEPs qualification (holding/working towards)

Tools

IT systems

Job description

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Advanced Practitioner Practice Development (Adults)

Transform lives, champion rights & support adults to achieve their full potential.

• Location: Role will be countywide and can be based in Yeovil, Taunton, Bridgwater or Mendip
• Starting salary £43,149 rising annually, currently up to £47,665
• Full time, 37 hours per week
• Ideal opportunity for an experienced practitioner looking for their next step
• 30 days annual leave entitlement

Role Purpose

As an Advanced Practitioner Practice Development, you will play a lead role in driving high-quality, evidence-informed social work practice across our Learning Disabilities Service. Working within the framework of the Care Act 2014, you will help ensure practice is strengths-based, person-centred and aligned with professional standards, while modelling excellent practice and supporting others to deliver effective interventions that improve outcomes for adults, families and carers.

This role is central to the development of the social care workforce. You will provide supervision, coaching and professional support to Social Workers, students and Newly Qualified Social Workers, while leading and contributing to practice improvement initiatives that strengthen capability across the service and support sustainable, high-quality social work practice.

Working closely with operational managers, the Principal Social Worker and Learning and Development colleagues, you will help create a culture of learning, reflection and continuous improvement across the Learning Disabilities Service.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Service Manager in the leadership and management of teams, including effective operations, planning, team development, human resources, staff development and financial oversight.
• Work with the Service Manager to prepare social work development reviews, identify staff training needs and provide induction programmes for new staff.
• Assess students' ability to apply social work theories, models and approaches alongside legislation in practice.
• Develop students' and NQSWs' practice skills and ensure standards of practice for Social Workers are upheld, as defined by Social Work England and the Professional Capabilities Framework.
• Provide fortnightly supervision and regular support to students throughout their placement, ensuring consistent quality learning opportunities and supervision.
• Facilitate NQSW professional development meetings and reviews, complete observation reports and verify professional documentation.
• Lead and contribute to local and national service developments, quality assurance activity and practice improvement work.
• Provide advanced decision-making, problem-solving and advice to the social care workforce in relation to practice issues.
• Act as a source of expertise for social care and occupational therapy staff through coaching, mentoring, joint-working and case discussion.
• Work closely with partners, community resources, the Learning and Development Team and Principal Social Worker to support an integrated and quality-assured approach.

What We’re Looking For – Essential Skills/Experience

• A Social Work qualification (Degree, DipSW or CQSW) and current Social Work England registration.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, models of intervention and research activity that underpin best practice in adult social work.
• Experience of supervisory responsibilities, including oversight and mentoring of learners, such as students or Newly Qualified Social Workers.
• Holding or working towards Practice Education Professional Standards (PEPs) qualification.
• At least two years post-qualifying experience.
• Evidence of professional development, including contributing to the development and learning of others individually and as part of a team.
• Confidence in critically and constructively reflecting on others' social work practice.
• Excellent analytical, influencing, negotiation and organisational skills.
• A good understanding of IT systems and the ability to work under pressure, prioritise and manage deadlines.
• The ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels using positive and person-centred approaches, including through written reports.

About the Team/Service

You will join a busy, supportive and experienced Learning Disabilities Service, working alongside Social Workers, Adult Social Care Practitioners, Occupational Therapists and partner agencies to improve outcomes for adults with learning disabilities across Somerset.

The service focuses on enabling people to:

• Live as independently as possible
• Remain connected to their communities
• Have choice and control over their lives

As the Practice Development Advanced Practitioner, you will play a key role in supporting practitioners to deliver consistent, high-quality social work practice, championing learning, reflective practice and professional curiosity throughout the service. This is an excellent opportunity to influence practice, support workforce development and help shape the future direction of Learning Disabilities services across Somerset. This role will support the development of students, newly qualified Social Workers and experienced practitioners, helping to build a confident, resilient and highly skilled workforce.

You will work within a collaborative, multi-agency environment, building strong relationships with health colleagues, local services and partner organisations, while helping embed best practice and continuous improvement across the service.

Please Note: We may consider offering Skilled Worker visa sponsorship to suitablyqualified overseas social workers who are alreadyresidingin the UK. To be eligible, applicants must hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. Sponsorship will be assessed as part of the recruitment process. This is only available to candidates currently living in the UK, as unfortunately we are unable to provide resettlement support.

Due to the nature of the role and the geographical area of the service across Somerset, which is alargely ruralcounty, with limitations around public transport the ability to be able to travel to any location is essential. Therefore, applicants must have full access to a vehicle that can be used for work purposes.

We recognise and welcome applications from disabled individuals who may require reasonable adjustments to meet this requirement, andwe’rehappy to discuss this from the first point of contact with the recruitment team.

Please note, all internal candidates must apply via the Council's internal jobs page.

Person Specification

Criteria

Knowledge

Excellent knowledge and understanding of theories, models of intervention and research activity that underpin best practice in adult social work.

Operating within relevant policy, legal, ethical, and professional boundaries.

Experience

Experience of supervisory responsibilities, including the oversight and mentoring of learners (e.g.students or newly qualified Social Workers).

Qualifications / Registrations / Certifications

Social work qualification (degree, DIPSW or CQSW) and current social work registration with Social Work England.

Holding or working towards Practice Education Professional Standards (PEPs) qualification.

At least twoyearspost-qualifying experience.

Evidence of professional development including contributing to the development and learning of others individually and as part of a team.

Skills

Confidence in critically and constructively reflecting on others’ social work practice.

Excellent analytical,influencingand negotiation skills.

Proven organisational skills, including the ability to work under pressure, toprioritiseand manage deadlines.

Good understanding of IT systems.

Actively seeks out learning opportunities across the service and shares with others.

Model and promote confident and critical application of professional ethics to decision-making, using a legal and human rights framework, andsupportothers to do so.

Model and promote a culture which encourages reflection on the influence and impact of own values on professional practice.

Demonstrate confident leadership, management, and arbitration of ethical dilemmas, providing guidance and opportunities for the professional development of others.

Promote people’s rights to autonomy and self-determination, supporting, challenging, and guiding others asappropriate.

Provide critical reflection, challenge andevidence informeddecision-making in complex situations.

Routinely provide professional social workopinion, based on clear rationale and advanced professional knowledge.

Have a strong ability torelaterelevant legislation and policy, with the ability to apply this knowledge to practice.

Ability to employownknowledge, experience, practice skills, networks, and values to create a rich and inspirational learning experience.

Able to communicate effectively with people at all levels with positive and person-centeredapproaches, including via written reports.

Self-motivated and committed professional.

Carry out all dutiesin accordance withprofessional codes of practice, legislation, regulation and Council Policies and Procedures.

Able to demonstrateawareness of own professional limitations, personalvaluesand knowledge gaps, to critically reflect on the influence andimpacton professional practice and engage in regular supervision to improve practice and career development.

Work autonomously and as part of a team, understanding and appropriately developing the scope of professional practice to create new ways of working for the benefit of those who access services, their families, and theircarers.