Consultant Social Worker
Our Values
It’s great to know that you are interested in working with us at Coventry City Council. As a prospective employee, it is important that everyone who works for us is committed to our One Coventry values and shares our commitment to becoming a more diverse and inclusive organisation.
Our Values are:
About the team we are recruiting to
The West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership is one of 27 social work teaching partnerships accredited by the Department for Education to strengthen the quality of education and training for social work students and practitioners across the West Midlands. We have recently secured contributions from our Partners for the next two financial years, 2022 – 24 to support strategic planning and continuity of our work programme.
Our partnership includes Local Authorities, Children’s Trusts, NHS Trusts and Higher Education Institutes (HEIs),and is led by Principal Social Workers, Workforce Development Leads and Senior Academics across Children’s and Adult Services. We bring together practitioners, senior managers, academics, researchers and people with lived experience of social work and work together to make positive changes and improvements to social work education and practice.
Our Vision is to achieve excellence in social work education and professional practice through a research-led and evidence-based approach.
What is the job role?
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership as one of 3 Consultant Social Workers (CSWs) supporting regional and sub-regional activities. The successful candidate will be a key member of a supportive and enthusiastic Partnership Programme Team comprising Partnership Programme Manager, CSWs and Programme and Operational Support Officers. Professional supervision will be provided by the Programme Manager who is also a registered Social Worker. The role involves supporting employers across children’s and adults’ services and universities within the West Midlands and Cheshire East to ensure the objectives of the Teaching Partnership are met.
Consultant Social Workers lead on specific projects to improve practice and support the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership’s activities, which are aimed at developing and supporting high standards of social work practice throughout the region. The successful candidates will work with students, practitioners, academics and workforce development colleagues. Plans in development for 2022 – 24 include linking Consultant Social Workers with specific HEIs to support students’ readiness for practice placements as well as facilitating Communities of Practice for practice educators. Core and continuing projects led by CSWs include the development of practice education strategies to ensure sufficient quality student placements, developing a research strategy for the teaching partnership, delivering a continuous professional development offer for social workers and practice educators, anti-racist action, apprenticeships and improving the participation of people with lived experience of social work in social work education. CSWs will be responsible for providing regular reports and case studies to evidence progress and impact.
This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Who are we looking for?
Consultant Social Workers have a very visible role within the Partnership. This is a great opportunity to be creative, use your initiative, showcase your ability and develop a wide range of skills as well as enhancing your social work practice. You will be encouraged and supported to apply existing and developing skills in project work, teaching, facilitation, presenting and commissioning in a busy but rewarding environment.
You will have a good understanding of current developments in social work education at both qualifying and post qualifying levels and of children’s and/or adults’ social work. The successful candidate will have knowledge of professional standards, ethics and values that underpin social work practice and knowledge of research and its application to practice.
The post holder will need to be a Registered Social Worker who has attained an undergraduate and/or post-graduate degree in Social Work. They will also have completed the Full Practice Educator Award (PEPS 2) and have considerable experience as a practice educator.
We currently have two full time, 37-hour posts available but are open to exploring part-time and flexible working options. Please note that the salary advertised will be pro-rata to hours worked. Please indicate if you would prefer to work part time in your personal statement. The vast majority of work is currently taking place remotely, although we expect to hold more in person meetings in the near future. The team has an office base in Coventry where we have team meetings, usually two weekly.
Coventry City Council hosts the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership and as such the successful candidate will be employed by or seconded to Coventry City Council.
The posts are being offered as a two-year fixed-term appointment until 31st March 2024, or as a secondment opportunity from employers in the Teaching Partnership. Whilst this is advertised as an appointment until 31st March 2024 there may be an opportunity for the post to be extended depending on funding available after March 2024.
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Cheryl Wall on 02476 978450.
For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'
Interview date(s): Wednesday 23rd March. Interviews will be held in person at Coventry City Council, Friargate, Coventry (5 minutes walk from Coventry Railway Station)
About Coventry
Coventry is a lively, multicultural city, which embraces old and new. Around the modern city centre there are traces of history everywhere – in the old city walls, the timber-framed buildings and the reconstructed medieval Spon Street. But Coventry has always had an eye on the future, and is now firmly focused on regenerating and re-inventing itself to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. With major developments and new projects taking place right across the city, Coventry City Council is the place to be!
There's a huge buzz about the city – Coventry ranks as the 8th best city to live, work and do business in the UK, and is the UK City of Culture 2021 ! We believe this will help put Coventry on the map for all the right reasons. You can feel the sense of local pride throughout the city as we build towards this momentous year. It also offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to those joining us to play their part in it.
We genuinely believe that Coventry City Council is a special place. You will be joining Coventry City Council during an exciting time to become part of a team that contribute to achieving our visions for the city. We have made our council a place where we look after our people, making sure you're happy in your work and given everything you need to succeed. We've created friendly, welcoming workplaces where everyone is working towards the same cause, providing the best possible services for the city of Coventry.
As a council with improvement at its heart, we’re committed to making life better for the people who live and work in Coventry. We’re equally concerned with the quality of life enjoyed by our people, so by joining us, you won’t just be helping the community, you’ll be helping yourself too.
Not only do you get to work alongside great people that are helping to improve services for our community we offer great benefits too! For your valued contribution we will provide a fantastic benefits package including;
- Flexible working arrangements
- Generous annual leave allowance starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days
- Pay progression through multiple increments
- Outstanding local government pension scheme
- Learning & Development with access to certified courses.
- Access to an award winning Occupational Health Team
- Vibrant employee networks
Coventry City Council
