Enhanced Social Work Practitioner

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; North East; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Durham County Council is seeking an Enhanced Social Work Practitioner to mentor Newly Qualified Social Workers, modelling best practice and supporting their development. The role focuses on maintaining reduced caseloads while guiding reflective practice and casework within a high-performing Children’s Services team.

You will join a service with outstanding inspectors, receive strong supervision, induction and a broad learning offer.

Qualifications

• Significant experience working with children, young people and families.
• Experience using evidence-based practice to devise effective interventions.
• Knowledge of legislation and national standards relevant to the role.
• Ability to apply social work theories to practice.
• Commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people, families and carers.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to Newly Qualified Social Workers to build confidence, resilience, knowledge and skills.
• Plan and facilitate reflection sessions using Signs of Safety and trauma-informed relational practice.
• Guide cases and co-work more complex cases ensuring reflection is visible in the child’s record and outcomes improve.
• Collaborate with Practice Leads in the Social Work Academy and the Team Manager to manage caseloads and progression.

Skills

Social work experience

Evidence-based practice

Legislation knowledge

Theories application

Outcome improvement

Job description

Do you believe every child deserves to grow up surrounded by love, family, and a sense of belonging?

Are you an experienced social worker ready to progress your career and step into a role supporting our Newly Qualified Social Workers, modelling exceptional practice that will inspire and develop their skills at this important stage of their careers?

If so, we want to hear from you!

We’re on an exciting journey to expand our Connected Carers Service, doubling in size over the next 12 months, from two teams to four. This growth means more children staying within their family networks, more stability, and more opportunities for lifelong connections. We want every team to have an Enhanced Social Work Practitioner who will mentor the Newly Qualified Social Workers in the team.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

In addition to holding a reduced caseload, you will use your experience and knowledge to:

• Provide advice and guidance to our Newly Qualified Social Workers to help them build their confidence, resilience, knowledge, and skills in line with the post qualifying standards.
• Plan and facilitate sessions that encourage our Newly Qualified Social Workers to reflect, develop multiple hypotheses and enable peer challenge and critical reflection in decision-making. Sessions will incorporate the Signs of Safety practice model and trauma informed relational practice.
• Provide advice and guidance to Newly Qualified Social Workers on their cases and co-working more complex cases ensuring this reflection is evident on the child’s record and improves outcomes for the child.
• Work closely with the Practice Leads in our Social Work Academy and your Team Manager to ensure that the Newly Qualified Social Workers have appropriate caseloads in terms of number and complexity, and that they progress well.

You will be joining us at a fantastic time. Inspectors have judged our Children’s Services as outstanding. You can read the full report here

HOW WILL WE SUPPORT YOU?

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 strong learning and development offer.

We encourage you to contact Julie Naylor Team Manager of one of our current Connected Carers teams for an informal discussion.

Contact Julie by e‑mail at [e-mail] to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

WHAT WILL I NEED?

To apply for this role you will:

• Be a social worker with significant experience of work with children, young people and families.
• Have experience of using evidence-based practice to devise effective interventions
• Have knowledge and experience of implementing legislation and national standards relevant to the role
• Have the ability to implement a range of social work theories relevant to the role
• Be committed to improving outcomes for children, young people, families and carers

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.

Our commitment to safeguarding

Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore if successful in your application, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought inclusive of a check of the Children’s Barred List, due to the position working in regulated activity.

Applicants should be aware that the DBS check will disclose both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, in line with current legislation and will confirm whether an individual is barred from working with children.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held from the 27th August 2026 onwards.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

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

Hybrid working applies to these posts.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

CONNECT WITH US

Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook Visit our website

#VPRS/161

Company: Durham County Council

Salary: Grade 12 – £44,075 – £48,226 per annum. Pay award pending.

Location: Durham, Durham

Sector: Health and Social Care

Sector: Social Care

Job Role: Social Worker