Advanced Practitioner

At Sandwell Children's Trust we strive for excellence to improve the lives of children. Our 'Sandwell Deal', brings together our new improved offering that make Sandwell Children's Trust a great place to work; it also sets out our expectations of you as a member of staff., The Social Work Academy works on 'growing our own' Social Workers to create a sustainable social workforce of the future, as well as developing and improving practice with our children and families across our operational services.

Our Advanced Practitioner Practice Development posts are based out in the locality services, with roles available across Tipton and Rowley Locality, Smethwick and Oldbury locality and a part-time job share role within West Bromwich and Wednesbury locality attached to our Children with Disabilities Team.

There is a focus on working collaboratively with the Social Work Academy and with your colleague Advanced Practitioners across the Trust. We support practice in a variety of ways through Practice Learning, Practice Development and Practice Improvement.

The role:-

• To develop the delivery of effective, evidence based, outcome and solution focused practice / interventions within the localities and services. Lead on developing best practice and keep informed of research and disseminating to staff.


• Undertake Practice Improvement through quality assurance activities and practice reviews, when required and work with managers and practitioners using practice learning methodology, to deliver an effective service. Work with the Operational Service and Quality and Assurance Service and Unit to ensure themes emerging from practice reviews are disseminated to practitioners.


• To carry out group/individual and/or professional consultation of staff to support continued professional development, and to support the maintaining of consistency and quality standards of practice within a defined service area through Practice Learning.


• Offers practice consultancy on complex children for the allocated Practitioners in conjunction with Team Managers, requiring a high level of expertise and specialist input within the defined areas of the service


• To demonstrate and evidence authentic practice, and the opportunity to 'be observed' and 'to observe practice' through allocation and/or co-allocation of a small number of children.


• To commission, develop and deliver specialist training interventions, including events, guidance, seminars, and workshops for staff through Practice Development and a core training offer.


• To assist the Team Managers and operational leaders in the management of risk and operational requirements in order to maintain delivery and quality of services.
  
  You will have substantial experience of front-line social work practice including in-depth working experience of safeguarding and protection of children. Ability to apply knowledge of legislation, research and policy to the practice of social work with children and families.


• Experience of delivering clinical or developmental supervision within a childcare setting, and experience of practice education and assessing students, apprentices and/or NQSWs within the DfE and SfC framework.


• Proven ability to understand and meet performance targets for service delivery and professional practice, whilst improving practice.


• Experience of developing, planning and delivering statutory social work training to professional groups.


• High level of working knowledge of the current statutory framework for vulnerable Children and their families as well as an in depth understanding of Government policy initiatives and local provision.


• Excellent communication skills providing the ability to effectively engage with a range of individuals, including children, their parents and families, colleagues and Managers within Sandwell Children's Trust and across agencies.


• Able to inspire and motivate others.


• Able to take ownership of responsibility arising from own and other's allocated work appropriate to the level of the post.


• You will have the ability to use own initiative to work on long term projects and under minimal supervision.
  
  When people join the team at Sandwell they say it feels like they become part of the family…they have #ComeHomeToSandwell. With the work that we have done so far and with the ambitions we have for the future, it's a really exciting time to join Sandwell Children's Trust and to become part of our Family.


So, if you think your future could lie with Sandwell Children's Trust, then we'd love to hear from you., At Sandwell Children's Trust we strive for excellence to improve the lives of children. To achieve this, we know how important it is to retain and attract high performing, forward thinking and innovative people and provide them with all the support they need.

With a culture of collaboration, partnership working and the child at the heart of everything we do, it really is an exciting time to join Sandwell Children's Trust.

Working for us

There are lots of great reasons to work with us in Sandwell Children's Trust. From a generous rewards package to a culture of learning and development. Our 12 reasons to work for Sandwell Children's Trust sets us apart as the place to grow your career and feel part of a great team. Please visit the Sandwell Deal and our 12 reasons via this hyperlink: https://sandwelldeal.co.uk, Sandwell sits in the heart of the West Midlands and has a diverse population of 341,729 people. While Sandwell is the 12^th most deprived local authority in England, it is a community where our families have high aspirations and where we pride ourselves on equality of opportunity and our adaptability and resilience.

What we can offer you:-

• Generous annual leave of up to 31 days, plus 5 additional days for long service recognition.


• Your birthday off paid in addition to annual leave entitlement and 8 Bank Holidays, plus a concessionary day at Christmas.


• You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme with employer contributions of 21.6%.


• We recognise individual loyalty with service awards from 2, 5, 10 and every 5 years onwards.


• Flexible working patterns that suit you and all of our roles have well-defined career progression.


• We provide competitive expenses for both mileage (55p per mile) and subsistence, plus access to a comprehensive employee benefits scheme., Flexible working patterns that suit you and all of our roles have well-defined career progression.


• Access to our Learning & Development portal offering virtual training programmes, learning & development info bursts, learning events and much more.


• The latest technology enabling more effective and streamlined working.


• Detailed and effective appraisals to strengthen your practice.


• Access to a range of family friendly policies.


Benefits & Rewards

• Up to £6,500 re-location package


• Generous annual leave entitlement, plus 5 additional days for long service recognition.


• The opportunity to purchase up to 10 days additional holiday through our salary sacrifice scheme.


• Your birthday off paid in addition to annual leave entitlement and 8 bank holidays, plus a concessionary day at Christmas.


• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, this is a nationwide career average scheme with employer contributions of 21.6%.


• We recognise individual loyalty with service awards from 2, 5, 10 and every 5 years onwards.


• Reimbursement of Social Work England registration


• 24/7 access to free and confidential employee counselling service


• Access to a range of discounts on products and services


• Salary sacrifice schemes for cars, bikes and technology.


• Refer a friend scheme


• Wellbeing initiatives and forums


• Discounted gym membership


• Eye care vouchers