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SalarySalary: G9 £38,223 - £43,421 (pro rata)
18.5 Hours per week - Permanent
Walsall Fostering Service are looking to recruit a skilled and motivated individual to the newly created post of Training & Development Officer. This is a fabulous opportunity to join a progressive, stable, supportive and motivated fostering service.
In Walsall, we have high aspirations for our children in care and to help achieve these aspirations, our foster carers need to be provided with high quality support and Training & Development opportunities. The newly created post of Training & Development Officer is an important addition in making these aspirations a reality.
This role will help support practitioners, our foster carers and special guardians to provide the best levels of care by increasing their skills and understanding. You will take the lead in:
- Delivering the operational objectives for the Fostering Service Training and Development Programme
- Coordinating learning events
- Creating and facilitating new training material and the on-going support of practitioners, foster carers and special guardians
This is a part-time vacancy that will require working collaboratively with our Fostering Service and wider Children’s Services. You will need to understand the training and development priorities for Walsall foster carers, analysing which training can be provided jointly and which training might need to be bespoke for different types of carer and to ultimately meet the needs of Walsall children and young people.
It has never been a more exciting time to work for Walsall Children’s Services, as we continue on our journey to implement improvements for our children, foster carers and our workforce. We are committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and families and doing this through creating the conditions where great social work practice can flourish.
You will have the opportunity to help shape the fostering service and contribute to our whole service journey to Outstanding by providing the safest and best outcomes for our children and young people. You will be part of an experienced, ‘can do will do’ fostering service and work closely with the fostering teams and external providers.
FOSTERING SERVICE
All staff in the Fostering Service have recently undertaken Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy training to support us all working in a more trauma informed way. There are lots of opportunities for training and development and we are a very forward-thinking team who want to develop services that support children for the future.
What we offer you
By choosing to join us in Walsall you will receive a package of benefits and support. These include:
•A generous annual leave entitlement offering a minimum 28 days leave per year plus 9 concessionary days and in addition to a flexible working scheme that allows up to a further 12 days leave per year for a full time position
• Access to an award winning pension scheme
• All staff receive training in Restorative Practice and Motivational Interviewing, as well as other key methods and tools to support family-led decision-making and relationship-based social work.
• We are committed to a staff wellbeing programme to recognise and support our staff, recognising that to keep children safe and support families, social workers need to feel safe and supported
• We have a career pathway that moves from an ASYE programme recognised as a national example of good practice, to a Core Training offer for all Social Workers, to new Practice Supervisor Pathway and Team Manager Programme to support more experienced Social Workers in their development.
• This is part of a focused approach to staff development in our Annual Performance Conversations, and opportunities for individual continuing professional development activities linked to specialisms and interests, as well as the Practice Educator PEPs Level 1 and 2.
• We hold regular celebration events, service and practice development days, and staff engagement forums. We want to hear from you and improve and grow based on what you tell us! We have a genuine commitment to equality of opportunity for all staff - we aim to employ a representative workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are proud to be aiming high and looking to do things differently, and to focus on doing the main, fundamental things we need to get right to achieve the right outcomes for children and families, and to make Walsall a great place to do social work. We hope that you will join us on this journey.
Want to know more?
For further information please contact Charmain Lewis by email at: Charmain.lewis@walsall.gov.uk
Closing date for applications: 15th March 2024
Interview Date: TBC
View: Job Description and Employee Specification
Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. See our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.
Safeguarding: Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children and young people entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children and young people. Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.
Social work England: The post holder with a social work qualification or equivalent, must be registered with Social Work England.
Fluency Duty: This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The postholder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.
