At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and transform Children’s Social Care to ensure the best outcomes for families.
- Company: Gateshead Council, a forward-thinking local authority dedicated to community welfare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and excellent pension scheme.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while leading innovative social work practices.
- Qualifications: Social Work degree, registration, and significant leadership experience in Children’s Services.
The predicted salary is between 54495 - 57937 £ per year.
Salary £54,495 - £57,937 + 25% Temporary Return & Rearrangement allowance.
About the role
We are Gateshead Council, a forward‑thinking local authority committed to making Gateshead a place where everyone thrives. Our Children’s Social Care service sits within the Children and Families directorate and safeguards and promotes the welfare of children and young people across a wide range of statutory and early help functions. These newly created Practice Lead roles let you shape and lead the transformation of our Families First approach, steering high‑quality, evidence‑based social work practice across the county‑wide, integrated Family Help and Children’s Social Care system.
- Lead strategically and operationally across designated Children’s Social Care portfolio areas to deliver excellent outcomes for children, young people and families.
- Drive cultural transformation, innovation, continuous improvement and high‑quality, evidence‑based social work practice.
- Embed the Families First model, leading multidisciplinary teams through change while maintaining strong performance and accountability.
- Ensure compliance with legislative, statutory and regulatory requirements through robust quality assurance, auditing, benchmarking and inspection readiness.
- Maintain high standards of practice through consistent thresholds, assessments, planning and safeguarding decision‑making.
- Develop and implement service strategies, policies, performance frameworks and improvement plans aligned to outcomes and organisational priorities.
- Build and lead strong partnerships across statutory, voluntary and independent sectors to improve outcomes and deliver integrated services.
- Provide visible leadership and management to teams, including supervision, performance management, workforce development and fostering a culture of accountability.
- Manage budgets effectively to deliver best value and align resources to priorities within financial regulations.
- Champion equality, inclusion, workforce development and organisational learning.
- Take accountability for service decision‑making, risk management, service quality and safeguarding outcomes.
- Respond to complaints, oversee service improvements and act as adjudicating officer where appropriate.
- Ensure health and safety compliance across the service.
What you will bring
- Professional credibility: Social Work degree (or equivalent), Social Work England registration, and significant post‑qualifying and senior leadership experience in Children’s Services.
- Expert knowledge: In‑depth understanding of children’s social care systems, safeguarding, legislation, policy, case law, social work theory, and national/local sector developments.
- Strategic leadership: Proven ability to develop and deliver strategic plans, lead transformation, design services and drive performance improvement in complex environments.
- People leadership & partnerships: Strong track record of leading managers and teams, managing performance and building effective multi‑agency partnerships at senior level.
- Decision‑making & risk management: Experience managing high‑risk, complex situations with sound judgement, accountability and resilience under pressure.
- Operational & financial management: Experience overseeing budgets, performance frameworks, governance, inspection readiness and delivering against targets and deadlines.
- Advanced communication & influence: Ability to analyse complex information, negotiate, challenge and influence across organisational and political contexts while communicating with clarity, authority and empathy.
What’s in it for you
- Competitive salary detailed above.
- Outstanding pension scheme – Local Government Pension.
- Generous annual leave – 28 days (32 days after 5 years, 2 of which can be fixed).
- Flexible working – up to 26 flexi days per year and hybrid options.
- Learning & development – a wide range of training, development and progression opportunities.
- Health & wellbeing support – discounted gym memberships and mental health resources.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Electric & hybrid car scheme – salary sacrifice vehicle after 12 months service.
- Exclusive discounts and salary sacrifice options for essential purchases after 6 months service.
Equality and diversity
We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Practice Lead in Gateshead employer: North East Ambition
Gateshead Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where employees can thrive. With a strong focus on professional development, competitive benefits including a generous pension scheme and flexible working options, and a commitment to equality and diversity, we empower our staff to lead transformative change in children's social care. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families across Gateshead.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Practice Lead in Gateshead
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at North East Ambition.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from North East Ambition!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like North East Ambition, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at North East Ambition or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Practice Lead in Gateshead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to North East Ambition:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to North East Ambition! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at North East Ambition
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
