Social Work Consultant

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; Seaham; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham County Council is seeking a Social Work Consultant to join the leadership team and shape outstanding support for children and carers in County Durham. You will work with the Team Manager to champion family-based care, drive best practice, and lead innovation across our services.

We expect you to be an experienced social worker with a strong track record in working with children, young people and families, capable of building respectful partnerships and communicating effectively with

Qualifications

• Be a social worker with significant experience of work with children, young people and families.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Team Manager to ensure the team delivers high-quality services for children and carers, aligned with legislation and guidance.
• Drive best practice by applying research, evidence and your professional expertise.
• Challenge and improve practice, policies, and procedures; promote innovation and adopt proven approaches.
• Model and facilitate reflective, evidence-based decision-making.

Job description

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

Are you ready to be part of a leadership team that makes this vision a reality? If so, we want to hear from you! As a Social Work Consultant, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of our service. You will work hand-in-hand with the Team Manager, combining your expertise to shape outstanding support for children and carers. Together, you'll champion family-based care, inspire best practice, and lead innovation that makes a lasting difference across County Durham.

WHAT'S INVOLVED?

• Collaborate with the Team Manager to ensure the team delivers high-quality services for children and carers, aligned with legislation and guidance.
• Drive best practice by applying research, evidence and your professional expertise.
• Challenge and improve practice, policies, and procedures; promote innovation and adopt proven approaches.
• Model and facilitate reflective, evidence-based decision-making.

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. When you are ready to take your next step our aspiring managers programme 'rising stars' will be there for you.

What will you need?

• 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.

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 9th November 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.

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.

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Company: Durham County Council

Salary: Grade 13 – £48,738 – £53,051

Location: Seaham, Durham

Sector: Health and Social Care

Sector: Social Care

Job Role: Social Worker