Practice Education Development Lead

Practice Education Development Lead - ESCA

Permanent, Full Time

£45,217 to £54,395 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Operational field-based worker

Closing Date:8th December 2024

The Role

Essex County Council (ECC) supports over 100 students every year from over 13 social work courses working with multiple university partners. We are fortunate to have a large cohort of several hundred practice educators to support learners and invest in their training and development to maintain their currency. This role is critical to ensuring the future of a strong and prepared cohort of social workers entering the profession. The role sits within the Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) which provides a strong team of support enabling those working in social care to grow and thrive throughout their careers.

The Opportunity

Essex County Council is achieving transformational change across Adult Social Care and Children and Families Services, underpinned by delivery of high-quality practice and a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion. The development of a professional, knowledgeable and skilled workforce is central to achieving practice improvement and driving change; delivered by a joint Essex Social Care Academy service which meets the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs of both professional areas.

The Practice Education Development Lead will oversee the practice education agenda by providing practice learning opportunities for social work students undertaking BA (Hons) and/or MA, MSc master's degree. Maintaining oversight of national policy and practice initiatives and undertaking research to ensure an excellent quality of practice education. Identifying learning needs and recommending appropriate learning solutions, aligned to professional skills frameworks and key Council objectives.

An experienced social work practitioner, with experience in managing a complex caseload and the capacity and knowledge to mentor and advise staff, manage performance and deliver improvements. Building strong working relationships and a thorough and in-depth understanding of adult learning theories is essential, as is evidence of successfully delivery and development of workforce projects and initiatives.

Accountabilities

Responsible for translating the developing Workforce Development strategy into a Practice Education programme, to ensure a high level of quality and professional development for social care, to support recruitment, retention, and development.

Work closely with operational service managers to promote and support the development of practice education, identifying learning needs and development solutions across social care.

Proactively develop links and working relationships with partnership agencies, HEI's and national bodies, to develop integrated practice learning opportunities leading to high quality practice education across the council.

Work collaboratively across the service to develop and manage processes and practice education, to build capacity for workforce planning, providing regular progress reports to senior management, groups and boards.

Responsible for overseeing and monitoring financial and budgetary review of practice education spend.

Maintain currency with national, regional and local practice education priorities by researching best practice, networking, attending conferences and/or meetings as appropriate.

Responsible for ensuring systems are in place to safeguard practice placements, quality assure and evaluate practice learning opportunities, by attending HEIs practice assessment panels.

Lead on delivering the practice education programme, ensuring that internal Continuing Professional Development programmes (either function specific or broader) and development planning, commissioning and delivery processes are integrated, to reflect commissioned outcomes and align with Partner programmes.

Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• A recognised social work qualification i.e. Diploma, degree or Masters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with Social Work England (SWE) as a registered social worker.

• Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge and Skills Statements.

• Significant experience of social work, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date understanding of all relevant legislation, regulation and guidance.

• Experience of mentoring both Social Work students and newly qualified and experienced Social Work staff, being a subject matter expert in professional social work

• An experienced practice educator qualified to PEPS2 standard or equivalent

• Evidence of developing strong relationships with partners and external agencies, which are collaborative in nature and engender joint delivery.

• In depth understanding of delivery of value for money interventions balanced against need.

• Proven track record of clear decision making in order to highlight and limit the potential risks associated with intervention.

• Desirable experience working across Adult Social Care and Children and Families

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our 'No Magic' Children & Families video

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all under-represented groups.

We are working towards implementing anti-racist practice and the Practice Education Development Lead will play a key role in supporting delivery of that ambition.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email

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