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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead high-quality social work practice and drive innovation in children's services.
- Company: Join a stable local authority with a proud track record of good practice.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, hybrid working, and a strong focus on professional development.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team that values learning and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping the future of social work.
- Qualifications: Experience in social work leadership and a passion for improving outcomes.
The predicted salary is between 46000 - 52000 £ per year.
Responsibilities
- Driving consistent, high quality social work practice
- Leading our quality assurance, audit and practice improvement programme
- Embedding a learning culture where practice continually evolves
- Leading our workforce learning academy, strong partnerships with universities, supporting our student social worker offer and our highly successful Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSWs) programme
- Providing visible, credible and respected professional leadership across the workforce
Why Join Redcar and Cleveland
We already do a great deal well. Ofsted recently recognised our practice as GOOD, and our workforce is proud of what we have achieved together. We are now looking for our next Principal Social Worker to help us build on this strong foundation – ensuring good practice becomes consistently strong, and that innovation is purposeful, evidence‑informed and improves outcomes for children and families. We are proud of our collective achievements, we have stable visible leadership, a committed workforce, a clear and strength‑based practice model 'Relationships First' and a culture where learning, reflection and professional curiosity are valued.
Key Focus Areas
- A confident stable workforce that understands and applies our Relationships First practice model
- Effective help and support that prevents escalation and supports families at the right time
- Reflective supervision and strong management oversight
- A robust quality assurance framework that drives learning, not just compliance
- Accessible and visible leadership that listens and responds
- Genuine participation from children, young people and care leavers
Benefits & Rewards
- The opportunity to lead practice excellence in a stable local authority children's services department
- A strong platform to shape the next phase of improvement and innovation
- Real investment in people, learning and leadership development
- A culture that is ambitious but grounded, where relationships matter and good practice is recognised
- Generous annual leave of up to 34 days per year
- Hybrid working (where appropriate)
- Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Access to numerous other salary sacrifice schemes
- Access to our employee health and wellbeing platform, which includes a range of staff benefits
- A range of Staff Network groups
Staff Testimonials
Very happy in Redcar & Cleveland and in every team, I have always had supportive managers. We are very lucky here in Redcar to have these opportunities. Excellent training and Practice Weeks, very helpful and informative. I am part of a supportive team and proud. Love the job and stay because of support. Both managers and service managers are approachable. Worked in a couple of Local Authorities and feel welcome here and supported by the team. Love my job and want to progress and in Redcar and Cleveland.
Head of Service for Quality, Practice & Innovation and Principal Social Worker employer: Government of The United Kingdom
Contact Detail:
Government of The United Kingdom Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service for Quality, Practice & Innovation and Principal Social Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Redcar and Cleveland on LinkedIn or through social media. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for standing out in the interview process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interview by diving deep into the 'Relationships First' practice model. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to this culture and improve outcomes for children and families. Show us you’re passionate about making a difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just talk about your qualifications; share real-life examples of how you've driven quality assurance and practice improvement in your previous roles. We love hearing about your successes and how you’ve led teams to achieve great results.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Redcar and Cleveland.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service for Quality, Practice & Innovation and Principal Social Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the key responsibilities mentioned in the job description. Highlight your experience in driving quality social work practice and leading improvement programmes, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you've provided professional leadership in your previous roles. Share specific examples of how you've led teams or initiatives that align with our 'Relationships First' practice model, as this is crucial for the role.
Emphasise Continuous Learning: Since we value a learning culture, make sure to mention any experiences where you've fostered learning and development within your team. This could be through training, reflective supervision, or partnerships with educational institutions.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to lead practice excellence in Redcar and Cleveland.
How to prepare for a job interview at Government of The United Kingdom
✨Know Your Practice Model
Make sure you understand the 'Relationships First' practice model inside out. Be ready to discuss how you would apply this model in your leadership role and how it can enhance social work practice. Show them you’re not just familiar with it, but that you genuinely believe in its principles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your leadership approach and how you’ve successfully led teams in the past. Highlight examples where you've fostered a learning culture or improved practice through effective supervision. They want to see that you can inspire and support a stable workforce.
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment to Quality Assurance
Be ready to discuss your experience with quality assurance frameworks. Share specific instances where you’ve driven improvements in practice or outcomes. They’ll be looking for someone who can ensure that good practice becomes consistently strong, so come armed with evidence of your successes.
✨Engage with Their Vision
Familiarise yourself with Redcar and Cleveland’s recent achievements and their future goals. During the interview, express your enthusiasm for building on their strong foundation and how you can contribute to purposeful, evidence-informed innovation. Show them you’re aligned with their ambitions!