Are you an experienced social worker ready to progress your career and step into a leadership role? We are looking for a Social Work Consultant to join our Families First service in the South of the County. This could be the right role for you WHAT IS INVOLVED? As a Social Work Consultant you will be part of a new leadership team, with a focus on creating a nurturing learning culture and promoting relational, strengths based, trauma aware practise. You will: Work in partnership with the team manager to manage a team which carries out meaningful and rewarding work which achieves the best outcomes for children. Play a key role in developing the practice of front-line social care practitioners by developing, maintaining and championing expertise in specific areas of work with children and families; by driving excellent practice based on research evidence and professional experience; and, by supporting achievement of improved outcomes for vulnerable children and their families. Build and maintain successful working relationships with colleagues from a wide range of agencies. HOW DO WE PRACTICE IN DURHAM? In Durham everything we do is based on good strong working relationships with children and their families that understands their trauma and how best to respond to this. We want to help our families to create a network of naturally connected people, who all have an understanding about the worries, the good things, and the plan. We want to give our families a vision for how they can talk to their children about the problems and the worries people have. We want to help mams, dads, carers, children, and young people develop pride in their family even in the difficult times. Our practice model, Signs of Safety helps us to do this and Liquid Logic supports our work. You can read more about how we practice in our “how we practice in Durham guide” https://durhamcs.trixonline.co.uk/resources/resource-library HOW DOES IT FEEL TO WORK IN OUR FAMILIES FIRST SERVICE? When you join our Families First Service you will be supported by amazing colleagues and a leadership team that listens and cares about you and your work. You will benefit from a really strong training and development offer and support to continue to develop your career. We encourage hybrid working and are really open to discussions about flexible working. Recently we asked our team what was good about Durham and some of the feedback we received was: “ We stay because of strong leadership and an open culture where you can ask questions ”. “ An organisation that focuses on children rather than services ”. “ We appreciate flexible/hybrid working ”. You can read more about working in children and families social work in Durham here: https://www.durham.gov.uk/childrenssocialwork WHAT WILL I NEED TO APPLY? To apply for this role you will: Be a social worker with significant experience of work with children, young people and families. Have experience of championing and commending high quality practice, managing risk and building respectful partnerships. Be a wonderful communicator with experience of building positive relationships with children, young people and families and nurturing other professionals. You can read more about the experience, skills and personal qualities we are looking for in the attached person specification. If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure. WHAT BENEFITS AND REWARDS ARE AVAILABLE? We can offer you a range of employee benefits including competitive salaries, a generous leave entitlement of up to 32 days, a government pension scheme and various flexible and hybrid working options (benefits are subject to individual Terms and Conditions). If you would like to know more, please follow this link: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits If you are looking to relocate to join us, relocation expenses of up to £8,000 may be available to you. READY TO APPLY? We encourage you to contact Lynne Weatherspoon Team Manager by e-mail at lynne.weatherspoon2durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role. In line with the County Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted on-line via the Northeast Jobs portal. Please use the ‘Person Specification’ section of your application form to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge you will find on the attached person specification. If you do not evidence that you meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification you will not be short-listed. INTERVIEWS Interviews are scheduled to be held in person at Spennymoor Council Offices on Friday 30 May 2025. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran. If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 2627 27 (option 2), or the Recruitment Team via email at RecruitmentCYPSdurham.gov.uk EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise the value of difference, having a diverse talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services. As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and can provide support throughout the recruitment process, for more information please refer to the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion page on our website. We collect personal information from you when you register with North East Jobs and make an application. Details on how we processyour personal data is available in our Privacy Notice. https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/24645/Privacy-notice-human-resources/pdf/PrivacyNotice-HR.pdf PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS POST WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAILADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED WITH NORTH EAST JOBS, INCLUDING YOUR INVITE TO INTERVIEW IF YOU ARESHORTLISTED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOTIFICATIONFROM DONOTREPLYNORTHEASTJOBS.ORG.UK AS YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. PLEASE ENSUREYOU CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL. VPRS/161