Job Description - Torbay€¦ · Web viewJob Description Job Title: Practice Educator Strategic Team: Joint Commissioning Team Service: Children’s Services Business Unit: Children’s

Page 1Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009

Job Description

1. Key Purpose of Job1.1. To lead on developing social care practice in line with the latest research, policy and

legislation. Promoting and implementing practice standards, encouraging access to practice guidance and research to support evidence based practice.

1.2. To provide appropriate challenge to Social Workers, Managers and Heads of Service within Children’s Services to ensure that programmes and policies are delivered and adhered to in accordance with appropriate standards, procedures and legal requirements.

1.3. Promote continuous professional development by creating and delivering individual and group training to social workers and social work students, providing mentoring, coaching and facilitating group supervision/casework reflection sessions and developing creative ways to deliver learning.

1.4. To provide expert professional advice and support to ensure that social work training and development is delivered in accordance with agreed standards and thresholds.

1.5. To provide professional individual and/or group supervision to Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW’s) on the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE). Undertaking observations of practice and auditing activity in order to complete the NQSW’s assessment in partnership with Team Managers.

1.6. To lead a range of projects, quality assurance, analysis of performance information and research activities to identify gaps and strengths in practice and make recommendations for improvement. Ensuring that findings from performance data and all quality assurance activity is distributed and used to improve practice, drive up standards and secure the best outcomes for children and young people in Torbay.

Job Title: Practice Educator

Strategic Team: Joint Commissioning Team

Service: Children’s Services

Business Unit: Children’s Safeguarding

Responsible To: (day to day issues) Head of Services Quality Assurance &Safeguarding

Accountable To: (line manager) Head of Services Quality Assurance &Safeguarding

Salary Grade: (Spinal column points only) Spinal Column point 36-39

JE Ref: JCT12

2. Anticipated Outcomes of Post2.1. Post qualifying training for social work staff is linked to the social care career

development framework and succession planning.

2.2. Improve the quality of practice by promoting an ethos of continual learning and evidenced informed practice.


3. List Key Duties and accountabilities of the post3.1. To be responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times

3.2. To facilitate the learning and development of Social Workers, Newly Qualified Social Workers and Student Social Workers to develop their professional capabilities in line with the Professional Capabilities Framework and Children & Families Knowledge and Skills Statement.

3.3. In conjunction with Workforce Development Officer and Heads of Service develop and maintain policies, procedures and practice guidance promoting their application to practice to ensure that managers and social workers are clear about casework processes, their roles and responsibilities.

3.4. To work with the Principal Social Worker, Team Managers and the Workforce Development Officer to support social workers by proactively identifying learning needs. Designing and delivering a range of innovative individual and group training and professional development opportunities, to meet those needs and improve practice standards across the service.

3.5. Working with the HR Lead and the Workforce Development Officer to provide guidance and support to Heads of Service and Team Managers around staff development with regard to succession planning, Appraisals, the Talent Management Programme and the management of capability issues.

3.6. To contribute to the development and review of approaches, models, tools, policies and procedures that promote best practice in helping and protecting children.

3.7. To be responsible for leading and developing the ASYE programme and supporting NQSW’s alongside Social Care Managers taking responsibility to ensure all NQSW’s are registered with the Department for Education (DfE) and Bournemouth University.

3.8. To lead and manage the recruitment of Social Care students supporting the development of students on placement along with Practice Supervisors.

3.9. Responsible for ensuring appropriate practice observations take place with students and NQSW’s and learning is captured with appropriate learning and development interventions put in place if appropriate.

2.3. Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW’s) achieve the highest quality standards as part of the ASYE to recognise Torbay Council as an employer of choice.

2.4. Development of social work qualified staff meets the Social Care professional standards framework and links to the Social Care career grade structure to increase employee performance and aid retention strategies helping to ensure that Children’s Services are able to maintain a permanent, stable workforce to meet service demands.

2.5. The Children & Families Knowledge & Skills framework is embedded within Children’s Social Care and NQSW’s are supported to ensure they meet the appropriate standards.

2.6. Increased compliance across Children’s Social care to meet the new Supervision Policy and framework.

2.7. Employees on the Talent Management Programme are provided with appropriate advice and guidance around their development to meet their individual learning requirements.


3.10. To work within the Council’s policies and procedures ensuring that are embedded and fully implemented to maintain high standards of Social Work and management practicee.g. such as the supervision framework.

3.11. To keep abreast of changing contexts at local and national level, and take account of these in social work practice, modelling the social work role.

3.12. To contribute to a comprehensive quality assurance framework across the service, by undertaking a range of auditing activity, analysing and distributing findings to develop a learning culture.

3.13. To actively promote a culture of learning and the use of evidence based practice as part of the plan to improve the quality and consistency of practice.

3.14. To facilitate service and team based learning in line with the priority areas for improvement. Working with the Principal Social Worker and managers to identify gaps in professional capabilities and to put in place a team based development plan.

3.15. To undertake joint work with children and young people, their parents and carers on an ongoing basis to model good practice and to ensure that practice, theory, learning and experience are fully and consistently integrated.

3.16. To model how practice learning is applied in practice and to co-ordinate staff holding Practice Educator qualifications to provide an internal Practice Education service to staff involved in post qualifying learning and student placements.

3.17. To manage and monitor the progress of both Social Care students and Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW’s), providing or co-ordinating Practice Education to students and where necessary taking action to bar or remove delegates off programmes.

3.18. To model the standards for supervision and support working with students and NQSW’s in consultation and partnership with Team Managers including auditing the quality of supervision with Children’s Social Care against the standards and providing feedback.

3.19. To work collaboratively with partner higher education institutions and colleagues to build, manage and maintain the relationships to manage post qualifying pathways, attending regional and stakeholder meetings such as University of Plymouth, Bournemouth University and the Peninsula Social Work Education Group.

3.20. To act as lead negotiator with both the University of Plymouth and the Open University and Heads of Service to give appropriate guidance and advice around the suitability of placements for student social workers.

3.21. To facilitate workplace learning by managing the interface between workforce development and operational managers.

3.22. To provide advice and guidance on the qualification and career pathway for Social Care staff.

3.23. To provide supervision to colleagues as determined and support others to manage and prioritise work.

3.24. To work alongside colleagues to support the delivery of a comprehensive induction for new social workers.

3.25. To identify own learning and development needs to continually improve upon practice and to support CPD. To demonstrate the standards of proficiency as required by the HCPC in order to maintain registration


4. Give examples of the typical types of problems and decisions the post will be required to make4.1. The University of Plymouth and the Open University request placements for a specified

number of students Heads of Service within Social Care decline the opportunity of having a student for operational reasons the post holder through strong negotiations has to persuade the Head of Service of the benefits of the Council providing placements for students in relation to the potential for recruitment opportunities once the student has qualified.

4.2. Contributing to the safeguarding children agenda to ensure appropriate decision making.

4.3. Mentoring less experienced staff with full awareness of the significant impact you are having on shaping the current and future practice of individuals and where necessary challenging poor practice

4.4. Negotiating with other professionals and agencies to deliver the optimum support and intervention for children and families.

4.5. Providing peer support for newly qualified social workers in order to help deliver competent and confident professional practice.

4.6. Leading team discussions about evidence informed practice issues as they affect professional practice

4.7. The post holder will be required to liaise with both the Head of Service, the Faculty lead in the University, the Practice Supervisor and the student to work through any capability issues and if these are unable to be resolved recommending the failure of the placement and the removal of the student social worker the Council. The consequences of this may lead to the baring of the individual to continue their study and progress as a qualified practitioner.

4.8. The management and analysis of confidential and sensitive personnel information that will influence what learning opportunities are provided and to whom.

4.9. Challenging all levels of staff over the compliance with the learner policy which could lead to a claw back of training fees.

4.10. Challenging Team Managers over the quality / quantity of required ASYE support and reporting required.

5. Budgetary / Financial Responsibilities of the post5.1. Purchasing of services within the agreed scheme of delegation and financial regulations.

6. Supervision / Line Management Responsibilities of the post ( Please show / provide organisation structure as an appendices, showing official reporting lines6.1. To supervise a team of up to 5 staff members in accordance with the Council’s Policies

6.2. Enable the continuing professional development of staff by ensuring that all team members are given ‘protected time’ to pursue learning opportunities. Through this


process ensure that appropriate national professional standards/competencies are being met and monitored.

6.3. Recruit, retain, motivate and appraise team members. Ensure safe recruitment policies are followed.

6.4. Ensure that team members keep a record of their learning.

6.5. Demonstrate leadership competencies, acting with openness, honesty, integrity, instilling a clear sense of direction and purpose, priority and pace. Manage people in an inclusive way to deliver operational objectives.

6.6. Access the work and manage the portfolios of NQSW’s / Student Social Workers and Social Workers completing post qualifying study

6.7. Provide individual and group supervision to NQSW’s / Student Social Workers

6.8. To mentor and coach and groups of less experienced Social Workers, NQSW’s and Community Care Workers, ensuring a focus on evidence-informed practice

6.9. Contribute to the continuing professional development of staff by promoting and identifying potential learning needs to ensure that appropriate national professional standards/competencies are being met and monitored.

6.10. Model excellent professional practice and standards.

7. Working Environment & Conditions of the post7.1. Normal working environment and conditions

8. Physical Demands of the post8.1. Normal physical effort

9. Specific Resources used by the post9.1. None

10.Key Contacts and Relationships10.1. External – Partner Organisations, DfE, Further Education Providers inc. Bournemouth

University / Plymouth University

10.2. Internal - Directors and Executive Heads, Senior Managers, all Council based employees

11. Other DutiesTo undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.


Other Informationa) All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.

b) The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.

c) The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.

d) The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.

e) This post is based at Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.

f) The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable- always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.

g) If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

g) You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictionswill only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions

Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.

h) The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures.



Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.

In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.


Person Specification

Job Title:

Practice Educator StrategicTeam

Joint Commissioning Team

Service: Children’s Services Business Unit:

Children’s Safeguarding

Essential Skills and Effectiveness: Desirable Skills and Effectiveness:

1. Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.2. Able to work independently or as a member of a team.3. Ability to demonstrate skills in mediation, negotiation and

problem solving.4. Demonstrate ability to lead on complex work, to achieve

targets set within timescale and budget.5. Ability to identify and analyse need and draw up appropriate

plans. Highly literate and able to convey and to extract salient points in both written and oral media.

6. Ability to supervise and motivate staff in a way that ensures compliance with policies but also enables individuals to develop.

7. Ability to undertake complex assessments through observation and marking processes with pre and post qualifying students and social workers and ability to identify learning.

8. Demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous professional development and the ability to translate learning into practice.

9. Ability to perform competently in complex and high pressure environments where decisions about a student’s abilities and competence to enter the profession are made.


10. Be a role model of high standards, clear professional boundaries and integrity.

11. Ability to critically reflect and apply evidence based defensible decision making.

12. Ability to work in an open and challenging way.13. Excellent organisational and time management skills.14. Ability to prepare and present reports in a variety of settings.15. Demonstrate skills in working to achieve focussed outcomes.16. High level analytical skills.17. Excellent case recording skills.18. Ability to mentor others that upholds and promotes the

ethical principles and values that guide professional practice and thereby ensures compliance with policies.

19. Ability to implement anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive principles in all areas of work practice.

Essential Knowledge: Desirable Knowledge:

15.Good understanding of the full range of activities delivered by the Authority and partners in relation to children, young people and families.

16.Good knowledge and understanding of the Practice Education Professional Standards.

17.Demonstrable knowledge of the current agenda of Practice Education in Social Work within Children’s Services including an up to date knowledge of the national and local issues including.

18.Good knowledge of relevant theoretical frameworks, practice models and research findings.

19.Good working knowledge of ASYE Professional Capabilities Framework and the Children & Families Knowledge and Skills Statement

20.Awareness of effective management practices.


21. Thorough understanding of current legislation and guidance and developments in services to children young people and families.

20. Demonstrates an advanced and detailed knowledge of child development, attachment theory, anti discriminatory practice, the Framework for assessment of children in needs and their families, social work theory and methods.

Essential Experience/Achievements: Desirable Experience/Achievements:

22.Minimum of 3 years post qualification experience of working with children and families in the context of current legislation and government initiatives.

23.Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience of working in a local authority setting.

24.Experience of providing practice education and supporting Social Work Students / NQSW’s.

25.Commitment to evidence of applying an evidenced informed practice approach.

26.Experience of managing or supporting others and assuring compliance to policy and procedures.

27.Experience of working under pressure and making robust evidenced informed decisions.

28.Evidence of having delivered improved outcomes and impact for children and young people.

29.Understanding and experience of performance monitoring and performance management techniques to drive service improvement.

30.Demonstrates advanced and detailed skills in direct work with children and young persons, carers and families.

1. Experience of designing and delivering training


Essential Qualifications/Professional Memberships: Desirable Qualifications/Professional Memberships:

31.Social Work qualification e.g. DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent

32.Current HCPC Registration Certificate33.Practice Educator Standards Stage 234.Evidence of continued professional development.

3. Management qualification to certificate level or equivalent or, a willingness to acquire such, in a timely fashion.

Essential – Other requirements of the job role

Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people

Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties

Ability to accommodate occasional home-working

Documents

Job Description - Torbay€¦ · Web viewJob Description Job Title: Practice Educator Strategic Team: Joint Commissioning Team Service: Children’s Services Business Unit: Children’s