Social Care Workforce Officer - Children's Services

Social Care Workforce Officer

Social Care Academy, Children’s Services

£50,574 - £53,607

Hybrid role – Newham Dockside E16 2QU

Closing date: 05/1/2025 at 23:59

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOIN US TO HELP BUILD A FAIRER NEWHAM

We’re a vibrant, dynamic, culturally rich London Borough with a young population and limitless potential. We’re a challenging yet rewarding place for social work practice to flourish and we are steadfastly committed to our workforce being representative of the families that we work with. We are taking coordinated, meaningful and focused action to develop an inclusive culture because we believe this is at the heart of enabling diversity in all respects, including diversity of thought. We are taking positive actions to challenge all forms of discrimination and injustice to help make Newham a fairer and more equitable place for children and families to live, learn and thrive.

Our Social Work Academy supports our socil care workforce via focused training, talent pipelines and entry to the profession, co-produced learning offers and by continuously developing our 'Circles of Support' practice model; centring on systemic and restorative practice and a specialist learning and support offer for our practitioners. Ofsted described Newham as having a positive culture of learning and development and we always try to develop talent in-house. We have promoted 37+ internal colleagues so far this year and have put more than 50 practitioners through further education since 2020. We value your development and at Newham career progression is a reality for many of our colleagues. 

ABOUT THE JOB

We are seeking a Social Care Workforce Officer to join our Children’s Social Work Academy. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence the future of social work through the development of a coordinated workforce plan and talent pipelines. You'll drive improvements in practice and sustainability through working collaboratively with senior leaders, managers, and external partners to deliver targeted workforce planning initiatives. You will play a key role in shaping workforce strategies that promote professional development, retention, and sustainability. Your work will be essential in ensuring our social care staff are equipped to meet both local and national standards, fostering an environment of continuous learning and professional growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a strategic workforce programme tailored to the needs of Newham's social workers, focusing on recruitment, retention, and ongoing professional development.
• Collaborate with the Safeguarding Children Workforce Development Lead and other senior officers to align CPD programmes across children’s services.
• Build effective partnerships with local authorities, higher education institutions, and training providers to deliver high-quality social work education and career development pathways.
• Manage and support the development of a professional learning pathway, including student placements, the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) for newly qualified staff, and post-qualifying training opportunities.
• Monitor and manage budgets for social work training programmes, ensuring efficient resource allocation and value for money.
• Act as the primary contact for Practice Education, Social Work Degrees, and Post Qualifying Awards, ensuring quality placements and educational experiences for all social workers.

ABOUT YOU

You will be able to inspire and motivate others to have a desire for knowledge and the pursuit of continuous learning. You are a self- starter with a deep understanding of children’s social care, curious to learn more and possess the energy and ability to generate ideas and engage others to explore. Be fervent in your desire to support students, social workers and social care practitioners to be the best they can possibly be so they can help families in Newham to be the best they can possibly be.

You should want to be part of systems that embrace change in response to need with an established framework of relational practice that will welcome your contribution.  You will be an individual who has experience of local authority services for children and knowledge of workforce planning and development relating to children’s social work. Candidates will need to demonstrate this understanding clearly in their supporting statements to be shortlisted. We welcome applications from qualified social workers, although a social work qualification is not essential to meet the criteria in the person specification.

WHY WORK WITH US?

We’ve been working hard to make Newham a great place to practise social work.

• A commitment to addressing disproportionality wherever we find it.
• We’re a GOOD local authority focused on reaching excellence.
• We offer genuinely flexible/hybrid working to staff in our Academy.
• Stability: 100% of our Senior Managers and 71% of Team Managers are permanent.
• Our firmly established practice model, Circles of Support, was recently nominated for the prestigious MJ Award for Innovation in Children’s Services and allows systemic, restorative practice to flourish.
• Career progression is possible with Newham; we promoted 30 internal colleagues in 2023 and have already promoted 37 colleagues to date in 2024.
• Social Care Academy – 50+ social workers have studied for systemic higher education with us since 2020. Our Academy offer received significant praise from Ofsted.
• A competitive salary package with a market supplement that rivals capped agency pay.
• Oyster card/parking permit for business use.
• Wellbeing service, leisure and discount benefits
• Travel season ticket loan, cycle scheme, Local Authority pension.

TO APPLY

To apply please submit your CV and a supporting statement (1-2 sides of A4) through Fusion internal jobs. We will accept applications from agency colleagues but if successful they will need to move onto a permanent contract.

Shortlisting decisions will be based on candidates' relevant experience and suitability for the role in line with the person specification, as described in their supporting statement and CV.

Closing date: 05/01/2025 at 23:59

Interviews: ASAP

If you have any questions about the recruitment process or want to discuss joining Newham Children’s Services with one of our managers, please contact our Recruitment Team.

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteri