Advanced Practitioner - Learning and Development

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,

This is a fixed-term contract with a duration of 24 months. Join Sandwell’s forward-thinking Social Work Academy Team as an Advanced Practitioner – Practice Development. In this role you will shape Social Work practice, support and assess apprentices, drive continuous improvement through our Quality Assurance framework, and deliver learning and development opportunities across the service.

You will work alongside dedicated professionals committed to providing outstanding care and support to those who need it most.

• Supervise, support, teach and assess social work students on placement, degree social work apprentice students and Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) in their ASYE and the social workers undertaking Practice educator training.
• Teach wider groups of staff about specific topics, development and CPD as part of the Principal Social Worker’s work plan, work with the Principal Social Worker /budget holder to deliver learning and development within available resources and support income generation through student placements.
• Have a significant role in practice development, practice improvement and practice learning across the organisation, supporting staff to grow and become Good and Outstanding practitioners.
• Contribute to policy development and training around Quality Assurance and audits, manage the auditing process and lead on embedding the Quality Assurance Framework across the service.
• Work collaboratively with Social Workers, Senior Social Workers and Practitioners, as well as the Students and Newly Qualified staff within their services.
• Champion good practice initiatives contributing to recruitment and retention of our social work workforce and good quality.
• Undertake specific duties and responsibilities determined by the Principal Social Worker and senior managers to enable the team and wider organisation to achieve its goals.
• Proactively seek to promote partnership working and integration within and outside of the council.
• Support staff and act as a consultant in areas of complex practice.
• Undertake a small amount of direct case work in complex situations for example joint working complex MCA assessments or safeguarding work.

• Have a Social Work qualification with a minimum of 3 years’ experience as a qualified social worker, some of which should be in an Adult Social Care setting. Have a current SWE registration.
• Have Practice Educator Post qualifying award – Stage 2 or equivalent in line with the Practice Educators Standards for Social Work and SWE Professional Standards with a minimum of 2 years of experience as a Practice Educator supporting and assessing students and NQSWs. Be able to act as a PEPS mentor and assessor.
• Have completed safeguarding adults training.
• Pass an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for both Adults and Children.
• Be able and willing to travel around the borough and out of borough. Be able and willing to attend meetings out of county and at other locations across the borough, including representing Sandwell ASC at regional meetings.
• Be able to drive (unless the Equality Act requirements apply) and be able to use a vehicle for undertaking visits, including transportation of clients or small items of equipment.
• Be willing to complete further training.
• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to work with changing and conflicting demands. Be willing to work unsocial hours as required.
• It is desirable for you to have a Best Interest Assessor qualification or be willing to train and support with Mental Capacity Training and Assessments.

• Have experience of working to develop and improve performance and social work practice, demonstrate high standards of professional practice and lead by example.
• Be able to undertake Quality Assurance work in general, including case file audits, safeguarding audits, SILP, DHR screening and Practice Reviews.
• Be a creative thinker who can influence and constructively challenge the thinking and actions of others, and have a reflective and analytical approach to working with individuals and problem solving.
• Lead the vision for change with commitment and tenacity, creating…