Social Work Consultant

Durham County Council; Newton Aycliffe; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Hybrid working (home and office)

Recruitment allowance

Relocation support

Job summary

Durham County Council is recruiting a Social Work Consultant to lead practice development for children and families. The role emphasizes nurturing learning, relational practice, and trauma-informed approaches within a supportive team.

You will collaborate with partner agencies to improve outcomes and participate in the Families First framework. The post offers hybrid working where applicable, a generous annual leave entitlement, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, with additional

Qualifications

• Significant experience of work with children, young people and families.
• Ability to champion high quality practice and manage risk.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building with children, families and professionals.

Responsibilities

• Work with the team manager to lead a team delivering meaningful work for children.
• Develop and champion expertise in frontline social care practices based on evidence and experience.
• Build strong partnerships with agencies and adapt to the Families First Partnership guidance.

Job description

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 Families First Partnership Guide.
• 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.

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.

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 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 here, Interviews will take place on Tuesday 10 November at our offices in Green Lane, Spennymoor. 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.

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. If you are looking to relocate to join us removal, lodging and separation expenses of up to £8,000 may be available to you if you live outside of County Durham and in excess of 30 miles in a straight line from your new base, along with a number of other criteria for eligibility. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.