Job summary
Salary:£37,336 - £39,186 pro rata
Hours per hours
Temporary/Fixed term:12 months
Interview date: TBC after shortlisting
Quality Assurance - Leading Compliance and Strategy for a Stronger Future
Are you a qualified social worker passionate about developing the next generation of social work professionals? Then Wiltshire Council has an exciting opportunity for you as a Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Co-ordinator.
Main duties of the job
This position offers an excellent opportunity to shape the future of social work in our community while advancing your own career. In this role, youll work closely with the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead to manage and support our growing Social Work Apprenticeship programme within Adult Social Care.
Your primary responsibilities will include coordinating the recruitment and onboarding of apprentices, ensuring they receive top-quality education and support throughout their training. You'll also oversee the placement process, making decisions to match apprentices with appropriate opportunities and addressing any issues that arise. Your role will involve collaborating with higher education institutions to maintain high educational standards and representing Wiltshire Council in relevant meetings.
We are looking for a social worker registered with Social Work England, with substantial post-qualification experience. Ideally, you will have experience as a Practice Educator or ASYE Assessor. Strong communication, problem-solving skills and a solid understanding of social care policy are essential.
About us
Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Thats why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right.
We are firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to the principles of inclusion and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Co-ordinator reports to the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead and works closely with the Principal Social Worker, OD Apprenticeship Consultant, OD Practice Education Role and wider team to develop and co-ordinate quality learning and provision across the Social Work Apprenticeship programme.
The role is primarily concerned with developing and coordinating the increasing offer of Social Work Apprenticeships across Adult Social Care under the direction and supervision of the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead. Identifying additional requirements or shortfalls of the Social Work Apprenticeship Programme, and recommending innovative, robust solutions. While also, supporting and assessing the ongoing process and development of Social Apprentices throughout their qualifying programme. Specific duties and responsibilities include:
To work closely with the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead to support in the development of the recruitment process for Social Work Apprenticeships, leading on the administration and co-ordination, working in partnership with, Principal Social Worker and OD Apprenticeship Consultant.
To lead in the co-ordination and support of Social Work apprentices with the onboarding process which will include, arranging interview dates, submissions of applications and qualifications.
Use specialist professional expertise to use judgement to make decisions alongside the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead to ensure that apprentices receive the best possible support and assessment, by coordinating a joined-up programme of development across the services themselves.
To support the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead and OD Consultants to manage the coordination and administration of placements for apprentices in consultation with the services,assessing the options in order to take appropriate action, making complex decisions in order to match apprentices with placements, escalating where appropriate.
Use and negotiation skills to achieve a variety of placements, proactively anticipating problems and delivering solutions to enhance the quality and efficiency of the apprenticeship journey, ensuring successful placements for a positive impact on the service.
To support the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead to develop and build strong relationships with higher education institutions (HEI) to ensure that Wiltshire can obtain a consistent high standard of Social Work education via the apprenticeship programme.
Where required, to support the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead to 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, using influence and judgment to achieve business aims and the best outcomes for apprentices.
To support the social work Apprenticeship and Development Lead to develop and coordinate the Social Work Apprenticeship programme within Adult Social Care, ensuring that observations, assessment, and support are taking place in a timely manner and alerting the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead when any issues around quality of practice are identified, assessing options and recommending solutions.
To work with the OD Officers to co-ordinate Apprenticeship support groups, ensuring that these occur regularly and that the needs of apprentices are met and evidenced.
To ensure and promote the use of Customer Voice throughout the Social Work Apprenticeship programme.
To understand and support different apprenticeship programmes offered within Adult Social Care and OS11-2704 Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Co-ordinator July 2024 Page 5 of 10the requirements to undertake.
To promote the Social Work Apprenticeship across Adult Social Care.
To provide administrative support to the process of Social Work Apprenticeships, 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.
To support the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead to produce and analyse reports, collating and storing data. This includes quality assurance data and evidence to recognize achievements, drawing conclusions from the data to make informed decisions for targets and areas for development as an aid to future business planning.
Where required, to provide a practice educator role for Apprentice Social Workers via practice and professional leadership, support, and where required supervision.
To support the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead to/ and where required, to undertake observations and assessment of Apprentices/students across their qualifying journey, discussing with the appropriate services and teams, obtaining customer voice and using proven professional ability to provide advice and make recommendations based on specialist knowledge throughout the process. To co-ordinate 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.
To 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.
To 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.
To uphold standards of practice for social workers as defined by Social Work England and in accordance with the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Workers.
To be committed to anti-discriminatory and oppressive practice.
Where required, to raise performance issues in relation to an apprentice to the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead for review.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Qualified social worker; registered with Social Work England.
2. Relevant professional experience post qualification.
3. Practice Educator (PEPs) trained, and/or experience as an ASYE (Assessed and Supported Year in
4. Employment) Assessor.
5. Evidence of professional development including contributing to the development and learning of others
6. individually and as part of a team.
7. Experience of assessing social worker student placements and/or ASYE SWs and coordination.
8. Experience of working in partnership with service users, other professionals and agencies.
9. Experience of undertaking and applying research to inform practice.
10. Proven ability to interpret and analyse statistical and numerical data, drawing conclusions from the data
11. to make informed decisions.
12. Excellent communication, influencing and negotiating skills both verbally and in writing.
13. OS11-2704 Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Co-ordinator July 2024 Page 6 of 10
14. Good strategic and practical awareness of social work-related policy.
15. Flexible approach to the design and delivery of organisational and bespoke programmes to suit a range
16. of stakeholder requirements balancing several significant demands and considerations.
17. Experience of diverse working environments.
18. Good time management with ability to work using own initiative, to cope with conflicting and changing
19. demands, applying a pragmatic approach to planning and prioritizing workloads to achieve results
20. under pressure.
21. Experience of supporting people through change and developing and implementing practice, policy and
22. other changes by applying professional knowledge and experience to make recommendations.
23. Experience of supervision, appraisal and professional development of staff.
24. Able to demonstrate independent critical judgement, to solve problems in complex and unpredictable
25. situations and to effectively manage conflict.
26. Able to communicate effectively with people at all levels with positive and person- centred approaches,
27. including via written reports.
28. Experience of planning, chairing, and contributing to meetings.
29. Expert knowledge of social care legislation and policy as it relates to social workers and the wider
30. social care team, including mental capacity and safeguarding adults and ability to undertake
31. consultation role for case holding social workers.
32. Takes responsibility for own professional development and commitment to evidenced based practice.
33. ICT skills and abilities, demonstrating significant experience in related IT systems.
Desirable
34. Significant practical post qualification experience in social care
35. Experience of designing and delivering training programmes
36. Experience in auditing and/or engagement in research
37. Experience in monitoring financial spending
38. Specialist knowledge or experience transferable to this role
39. Coaching/Mentoring qualification
Experience
Essential
40. Relevant professional experience post qualification in a similar work environment.
41. Expert knowledge of relevant policy, systems, work practices, professional guidelines, legislation in the area of
42. specialism.
43. Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
44. Proven ability to provide advice and make recommendations based on specialist knowledge of specific area.
45. Highlight and resolve potential risks.
46. Knowledge and experience of contributing to the development of policies, procedures and practices.
47. Familiar with wider sector / external influences.
48. Detailed operational knowledge of systems in terms of functionality, capability and availability.
49. Excellent interpersonal, persuasion, influencing and negotiating skills.
50. Excellent planning and organisational skills, with proven ability to prioritise and co-ordinate workloads, monitor
51. and evaluate work, to ensure deadlines are achieved.
52. Proven ability to interpret and analyse statistical and numerical data, drawing conclusions from the data to make
53. informed decisions.
54. Proven ability to cope with conflicting and changing demands through good time management and the ability to
55. work under pressure.
56. Experience of co-ordinating projects with service / organisation impact
57. Proven ability to produce business focussed, user friendly reports, policy and project documents where
58. appropriate.
Experience
Essential
59. Relevant professional experience post qualification in a similar work environment.
60. Expert knowledge of relevant policy, systems, work practices, professional guidelines, legislation in the area of
61. specialism.
62. Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
63. Proven ability to provide advice and make recommendations based on specialist knowledge of specific area.
64. Highlight and resolve potential risks.
65. Knowledge and experience of contributing to the development of policies, procedures and practices.
66. Familiar with wider sector / external influences.
67. Detailed operational knowledge of systems in terms of functionality, capability and availability.
68. Excellent interpersonal, persuasion, influencing and negotiating skills.
69. Excellent planning and organisational skills, with proven ability to prioritise and co-ordinate workloads, monitor
70. and evaluate work, to ensure deadlines are achieved.
71. Proven ability to interpret and analyse statistical and numerical data, drawing conclusions from the data to make
72. informed decisions.
73. Proven ability to cope with conflicting and changing demands through good time management and the ability to
74. work under pressure.
75. Experience of co-ordinating projects with service / organisation impact
76. Proven ability to produce business focussed, user friendly reports, policy and project documents where
77. appropriate.