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- Tasks: Support children and families while mentoring new social workers in a collaborative environment.
- Company: Join a passionate team dedicated to improving outcomes for children in County Durham.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous leave, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in social work and experience with children and families required.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with strong support for professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As an Enhanced Practitioner, you will blend the skills of a case holding senior social worker with those of mentoring newly qualified colleagues. You will build effective relationships with children, young people, and families and ensure that children and young people lead their care planning. You will advocate and appreciate individual need to achieve outcomes based on evidence-based assessments. You will spend quality time with children in our care, understanding their views, their life events and supporting them to understand and recover from what has happened. You will consistently model exceptional social work practice and skill to inspire and guide our Newly Qualified Social Workers, providing ongoing advice and support to them.
Working closely with the Practice Leads in the Social Work Academy and the Team Manager, you will ensure that the NQSWs have appropriate caseloads in terms of number and complexity, and that their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) progresses well. You will guide the team, supporting the Team Manager and be a point of contact in their absence. You will be part of a strong multi-agency team including education, health and our own therapeutic service Full Circle. You will be part of a team that is constantly seeking to improve outcomes for children in our care and be part of developing this service further. Your ideas and aspirations will be very important to us.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
We work with children and young people aged 0 – 18 who are looked after, living with foster carers or with family and friend carers, or in a children’s home. We care plan with children, their carers and family to ensure the child’s needs are met well, and we plan for their future. The views of the child and their family are embedded within our care plans and lead everything we do. Relationships with children and their families are very important to us, as is our relationships with the multi-agency teams we work with. We take a trauma informed approach, seeking to help the child recover and maintain relationships with important people in their lives. We work under a Signs of Safety framework which takes a strength-based approach and works towards the child and family goals.
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 ensure our social workers are highly supported and encourage flexible working to achieve a good work-life balance. You will benefit from a range of training opportunities and professional development through personalised induction, professional supervision, and mentoring.
WHAT WILL I NEED?
- A degree in social work or equivalent social work qualification
- Current Social Work England registration.
- Significant experience of social work with children, young people and their families.
- Commitment to work towards Practice assessor qualification PA1 and 2 in line with skills for care good practice.
We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates and aim to have a workforce that represents the society that we serve. Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria. If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held on 29th January 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. 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 people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
HOW TO APPLY
We welcome applications from disabled people and those who are or consider themselves to be neurodivergent. Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website. If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk.
Enhanced Social Work Practitioner in North East employer: Connected Local Government
Contact Detail:
Connected Local Government Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Enhanced Social Work Practitioner in North East
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in social work, especially those who are already in the field. They might have insider info on job openings or can even put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to social work. Think about how you would handle specific scenarios with children and families, and be ready to share your experiences that showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for the role! During interviews, express why you care about working with children and families. Share your ideas on improving outcomes and how you can contribute to the team’s goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll find all the resources you need to make your application stand out.
We think you need these skills to ace Enhanced Social Work Practitioner in North East
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work: When writing your application, let your passion for social work shine through! We want to see how much you care about making a difference in the lives of children and families. Share your experiences and what drives you to be an Enhanced Practitioner.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the job description. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that match what we’re looking for. Use the 'Person Specification' section wisely to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that are easy to read. Avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out, so we can quickly see why you’d be a great fit for our team.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find helpful guidance on completing your application there, so take advantage of it!
How to prepare for a job interview at Connected Local Government
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Signs of Safety framework and trauma-informed approaches. Brush up on your knowledge about the specific needs of children and young people in care, as well as the importance of building relationships with families. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but also understand how to apply it in practice.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
Since this role involves mentoring newly qualified social workers, be prepared to discuss your experience in guiding others. Think of specific examples where you’ve supported colleagues or contributed to their professional development. Highlighting your ability to inspire and lead will set you apart.
✨Be Person-Centred
Demonstrate your commitment to child-led care planning by sharing examples from your past work. Talk about how you’ve involved children and families in decision-making processes and how you’ve adapted your approach based on their individual needs. This will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. Inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing training opportunities, or how they measure success in their practice. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.