Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead

We are seeking an experienced and skilled Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead to join our team at Wiltshire Council. As a key member of our Adult Social Care service, you will play a crucial role in developing and coordinating the Social Work Apprenticeship programme.

• Develop and evaluate the recruitment process for Social Work Apprenticeships in partnership with the Principal Social Worker and OD Apprenticeship Consultant.
• Work alongside the Principal Social Workers and OD Officers to ensure that apprentices receive the best possible support and assessment, coordinating a joined-up program of development across the services themselves.
• Develop and build strong relationships with higher education institutions (HEI) as the link professional to ensure that Wiltshire can obtain a consistent high standard of Social Work education via the apprenticeship program.
• Represent Wiltshire Council and Adult Social Care when attending meetings with HEI, regional and national groups, ensuring to share knowledge and raise issues, where required.
• Collate, review and evaluate Social Work Apprenticeship programs across HEIs to continue to develop and innovate the apprenticeship offered within Adult Social Care.
• Develop, manage and evaluate the Social Work Apprenticeship programme within Adult Social Care.
• Lead and develop a process to ensure that observations, assessment supervisions and other related activities are taking place in a timely manner and alerting the Principal Social Worker and OD Consultant when issues around quality of practice are identified.
• Work with the OD Officers and Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Co-Ordinator to oversee the planning and implementation of Apprenticeship support groups, developing a process to ensure that these occur regularly and that the needs of apprentices are met and evidenced.
• Ensure and promote the use of Customer Voice throughout the Social Work Apprenticeship program.
• Understand and support different apprenticeship programs offered within Adult Social Care and the requirements to undertake.
• Promote the Social Work Apprenticeship across Adult Social Care.
• Lead in the production of reporting, and analysis of complex data, including quality assurance data to identify targets, researching areas for development which may have a broad impact both internally and externally for partner organizations, to support strategic business planning.
• Direct the work of colleagues to provide administrative support to the process of Social Work Apprenticeships, particularly in collating and providing accurate records to track progress of apprenticeships, providing oversight, and mentoring to ensure all associated programme administration is completed accurately and on time.
• Provide the lead Practice Educator role to Apprentice Social Workers via practice and professional leadership, support, and supervision.
• Develop a process and lead in the undertaking of observations and assessment of Apprentices/students across their qualifying journey, discussing with the appropriate services and teams, obtaining customer voice and using professional judgement throughout the process, with the support of the Social Work Apprenticeship Development Co-Ordinator.
• Through liaison with other managers and professionals, build positive working relationships to ensure effective joint working practices.
• Work closely with the OD Consultant for Social Care and Principal Social Worker to collaboratively provide sector and occupational expertise in social care to colleagues and maintain current awareness of research and developments in social care, policy changes, national legislation, regulations etc.
• Develop and deliver the training to develop shared quality standards, to provide sector and occupational expertise in relation to area of specialism across adults services and occasionally to support new business development activity.
• Lead and support OD Consultants and team managers, where necessary, with the ongoing recruitment process of an Apprentice to an NQSW post qualifying from the programme.
• Line manage the Social Work Apprenticeship Development Co-Ordinator.
• Ensure one's own practice is informed by up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and best practice feeds into policies and processes to ensure high quality standards are maintained.
• Operate within Council Policies and keep regularly updated with social work methods, new legislation, and procedures, including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and Human Rights Act 1998.
• Uphold standards of practice for social workers as defined by Social Work England and in accordance with the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Workers.
• Maintain and develop an understanding of the role of a Social Work Apprentice, the requirements they need to achieve to successful pass the course and identify, evaluate and consolidate where further development of training or support is required to support this.
• Be committed to anti-discriminatory and oppressive practice.
• Raise performance issues in relation to an apprentice to the Principal Social Worker and OD Consultant for review and discussion.

• Significant relevant professional experience post qualification in a similar work environment.
• Expert knowledge in the area of specialism.
• Expert knowledge of relevant policy, systems, work practices, professional guidelines, legislation and a good understanding of emerging developments in the area of specialism.
• Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
• Knowledge and experience of developing systems, policies, procedures and / or practices.
• Good knowledge of the wider sector / external influences.
• Detailed operational knowledge of systems in terms of functionality, capability and availability.
• Excellent interpersonal, persuasion, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, with proven ability to prioritise and co-ordinate workloads, monitor and evaluate work, to ensure deadlines are achieved.
• Proven ability to apply initiative and strategic awareness to problem solving and decision making.
• Ability to lead projects with service / organisation impact.
• Qualified social worker; registered with Social Work England.
• Practice Educator (PEPs) trained, and/or experience as an ASYE (Assessed and Supported Year in Employment) Assessor.
• Evidence of professional development including contributing to the development and learning of others individually and as part of a team.
• Experience of assessing social worker student placements and/or ASYE SWs and coordination.
• Experience of working in partnership with service users, other professionals and agencies.
• Experience of undertaking and applying research to inform practice.
• Experience of undertaking supervision of staff.
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiating skills both verbally and in writing.
• Good strategic and practical awareness of social work-related policy.
• Flexible approach to the design and delivery of organisational and bespoke programmes to suit a range of stakeholder requirements balancing a number of significant demands and considerations.
• Experience of diverse working environments.
• Good time management and ability to work using own initiative, to cope with conflicting and changing demands, applying a pragmatic approach to planning and prioritising workloads to achieve results under pressure.
• Experience of supporting people through change, developing, and implementing practice, policy and systems by applying your expert experience and knowledge of emerging developments to make recommendations.
• Experience of line management, supervision, appraisal, and professional development of staff.
• Able to demonstrate independent critical judgement, to solve problems in complex and unpredictable situations and to effectively manage conflict.
• Able to communicate effectively with people at all levels with positive and person-centred approaches, including via written reports.
• Experience of planning, chairing, and contributing to meetings.
• Expert knowledge of social care legislation and policy as it relates to social workers and the wider social care team, including mental capacity and safeguarding adults and ability to undertake consultation role for case holding social workers.
• Takes responsibility for own professional development and commitment to evidenced based practice.
• Experience of Microsoft Office and ICT systems, good understanding, and proven ability to use database information systems.
• Fluent in English.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. Please note that we do not accept applications via email. Please apply online or contact our HR team for further information.