Social Work Consultant

North East Combined Authority; North East; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Recruitment allowance

Job summary

Durham County Council is seeking an experienced Social Work Consultant to join the ASET/Harm Outside the Home team. You will move into an Assistant Practice Manager role, supervising staff and shaping practice to protect children and young people across County Durham.

You will lead on risk identification, manage complex cases, and work with partners to deliver safe outcomes. Flexible hybrid working and a strong learning offer accompany the post.

Qualifications

• Be a social worker with significant experience of work with children, young people and families.
• Be passionate about working with vulnerable teenagers across County Durham.
• Have significant experience of identifying and responding to and guiding others to understand and manage risk/need.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of practitioners to achieve the best outcomes for children at risk of harm outside the family home.
• Develop and champion frontline practice using research and professional experience.
• Build relationships with partner agencies to support service delivery.
• Provide supervision to a social work assistant and support workforce transformation.

Skills

Team leadership

Risk assessment

Partnership working

Supervision

Children & family social work

Education

Qualified social worker (Social Work degree)

Tools

DBS clearance

Job description

Are you an experienced children and families social worker ready to progress your career and step into a management role?

Are you passionate about working with vulnerable teenagers across County Durham?

This could be the post for you!

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

Our ASET team work across the County supporting children and young people who are at risk of, or experiencing, harm outside of the family home, including child exploitation, mental health, radicalisation, and homelessness.

As a Social Work Consultant you will be part of a leadership Team. 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 and young people who are at risk of, or experiencing, harm outside of the family home.
• 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 young people; by driving excellent practice based on research evidence and professional experience; and, by supporting achievement of improved outcomes for v children and young people.
• Build and maintain successful working relationships with colleagues from a wide range of agencies.
• Provide support and supervision to a social work assistant who supports the team.

We encourage you to contact Sue Thornton, ASET Team Manager for an informal discussion about the role before you apply. You can contact Sue by e-mail at [e-mail]

HOW WILL THE POST BE CHANGING?

Over the coming months we will be investing in strengthening our response to Harm Outside the Home so that we have even more skilled practitioners in Durham who are dedicated to supporting young people who are at risk of, or are experiencing abuse outside of the home, from individuals, groups of people or gangs who are not connected to their family.

Our existing ASET team will be growing to become a Harm outside the Home team. The team will be led by 1 alternatively qualified Practice Manager, and 2 social work qualified Practice Managers who will work closely together to ensure the team best meets the needs of families. Each Practice Manager will be supported by an Assistant Practice Manager, and each team will include both alternatively qualified and social work qualified practitioners.

As Social Work Consultant you will become an Assistant Practice Manager (social work qualified) and report to a Practice Manager (social work qualified). If you would like to know more about our plans or see copies of the new job descriptions please contact our Workforce Transformation and Development Manager Hazel Ostle by e-mail at [e-mail]

HOW WILL I BE SUPPORTED?

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

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
• Be passionate about working with vulnerable teenagers across County Durham
• Have significant experience of identifying and responding to and guiding others to understand and manage risk/need

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 on 22nd October 2026.

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.

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 and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.