Practice Development Officer - Centre of Excellence

London Social Work for Children; Enfield; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 32 days annual leave

Remote and office based working

Health and leisure discounts

Tax-free bikes for work

Job summary

Enfield Council invites applications for a Practice Development Officer to join its Centre of Excellence on a secondment or fixed-term basis until March 2028. This role focuses on quality assurance, frontline practice, and learning across Children and Family Services, with hybrid working options in a supportive team.

The ideal candidate will hold a social work qualification, show knowledge of current legislation, and be able to present information clearly to diverse audiences while leading and

Qualifications

• Hold a recognised social work qualification.
• Demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills to influence change.
• Be analytical and creative in approach.
• Be confident in presenting information clearly to a range of audiences.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of Enfield's quality assurance and practice framework.
• Model strong frontline practice across Children and Family Services.
• Contribute to quality assurance activity.
• Share learning in ways that are practical, meaningful and engaging.
• Build positive relationships, influencing change and supporting colleagues across the service.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Creative thinking

Education

Social work qualification

Job description

Practice Development Officer - Centre of Excellence

Are you a passionate and innovative qualified social worker who wants to help shape and strengthen practice across Children and Family Services? Enfield Council is looking for a Practice Development Officer to join its Centre of Excellence on a secondment or fixed term basis until March 2028.

We are ambitious for children, young people and families, and committed to creating the conditions where excellent practice can thrive. We value creativity, collaboration and continuous learning, and we are proud of the committed practitioners and managers who work together to make a positive difference every day. In this role, you will play an important part in our improvement journey for children and families in Enfield, working alongside a supportive and forward-thinking team where your ideas, experience and energy will be valued.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the delivery of Enfield's quality assurance and practice framework
• Modelling strong frontline practice across Children and Family Services
• Contributing to quality assurance activity
• Sharing learning in ways that are practical, meaningful and engaging
• Building positive relationships, influencing change and supporting colleagues across the service

About you

We would love to hear from someone who is motivated, enthusiastic and ready to contribute to meaningful change for children and families. The right candidate will be analytical, creative and confident in presenting information clearly, with the communication and leadership skills to build positive relationships and influence change.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a recognised social work qualification
• Have strong knowledge of current legislation relevant to children and family services
• Demonstrate a good understanding of what supports effective frontline delivery
• Be confident in presenting information clearly to a range of audiences
• Possess strong communication and leadership skills to influence change and support colleagues
• Be analytical and creative in approach

Enfield Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Enfield Council is committed to building a more talented and diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. The Council does not view applicants' names or titles during shortlisting as part of its commitment to equality and diversity.

About Enfield

Enfield is one of the most diverse parts of London, with all the benefits this brings across our communities, culture, heritage and local economy. It also has incredibly diverse landscapes - from the urban centres of Edmonton, Southgate, Palmers Green and Enfield Town, to rural areas and farmland in the north of the borough.

Based in the bubbling heart of Enfield Town, situated in a modern newly designed service hub, the new office is an environment which supports our smart working policy surrounded by small businesses, bars, restaurants, a buzzing high street and shopping centre. Our brand new high-tech multiagency office has good transport links into central London and is easily assessable to the M25, A10 and A406.

We are proud of the services we offer to children and families living in the borough and work with partners to ensure children receive the best start in life. We are passionate about improving outcomes and driving up standards and performance. Ofsted has rated our children's services as GOOD overall, read the full report here

Our offer to you include:

• A rewarding role in an Ofsted rated GOOD children's services department
• Up to 32 days annual leave depending on grade and length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year and an extra day off at Christmas.
• A blend of remote and office based working
• Health and leisure discounts and tax-free bikes for work.
• Modern purposefully designed working environment in Thomas Hardy House located 5 minutes from the station
• A clear career progression pathway, supported by a comprehensive training programme
• Smart technology assistance including hybrid video conferencing
• Employee Assistance Programme to provide advice and counselling services. This is a free and confidential service available to staff and members of their family.
• Enthusiastic and proactive staff network groups
• 1 month paid sabbatical for children's social workers

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