Our learning and development offer

Learning & Development

The comprehensive learning and development programme which we offer aims to:

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• Provide you with the best possible opportunities for your continuous development

• Improve the quality of assessments and care planning

• Enhance social worker knowledge and skills

• Ensure  comprehensive case notes and care plans so there is a clear articulation with evidence of the needs of children and families, from the point of referral through to the end point of the child’s journey

• Ensure effective supervision and management oversight of social work practice, where workers feel fully supported

• Ensure that students and newly qualified social workers will be better prepared and supported in their placements and first year of employment

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We offer:

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• ​A bespoke induction package

• Research opportunities with West Midlands Teaching Partnership

• A comprehensive and enhanced learning and development programme developed alongside the government’s new accreditation scheme and provided by our innovative Centre for Professional Practice.

• A service-wide Restorative Practice training programme with ongoing implementation of practice across all services

• On-line membership to CoramBAAF Adoption and Fostering Academy and Research in Practice

• Excellent staff engagement opportunities with staff briefing sessions, team manager meetings, staff reference groups 

• Career Development Progression​ - The progression process is to be used to make judgements about whether a worker has met the criteria to be progressed through the Social Worker Grading Structure​

• Opportunities to teach and assess students through our relationship with and affiliation to the West midlands Teaching Partnership

What's on offer to you?

​EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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• Salary range

  • Grade 8 SCP24 £28,673– SCP 27 £31,346

  • Grade 9 -SCP28 £32,234– SCP31 £34,729

  • Grade 10 -SCP32 £35,745– SCP35 £38,890
    Paid Monthly – Last Thursday of each month

• Annual and other leave provision

  • 29 x Days plus public holidays (Increasing to 33 days – after 5 years service)

  • Local Government Sickness Scheme - Up to 6 Months Full Pay plus 6 Months Half

• Family friendly policies

  • Agile working,

  • Flexible working,

  • Maternity leave;

  • Adoption leave;

  • Shared parental leave;

  • Parental leave;

  • Paternity leave;

  • Maternity/Adoption support leave

• Notice provision​

  • Grade 8 – 1 calendar month

  • Grade 9 – 2 calendar months

  • Grade 10 – 2 calendar months

• Local Government Pension Scheme​

  • The largest public sector pension scheme in the UK​

• A cycle purchase scheme

  • Salary Sacrifice Purchase Scheme

• Leisure centre benefits​

  • Subsidised leisure centre membership

• Childcare vouchers​

  • Salary sacrifice purchase scheme

• KAARP benefits (Discount vouchers)​

  • 100's of discounts on shopping, entertainment, holidays and much more​

• Paycare health scheme (contributory)​

  • A number of plans are available to suit individual requirement​

• Staff counselling service​

  • Confidential staff counselling is available for all staff and can support with work related and personal issues.

• Standard working hours​

  • 37 Hours per week

• Overtime/weekend working /night working/ shift working 

  • In accordance with the councils Collective Agreement

• Standby and call-out arrangement  

  •   In accordance with the councils Collective Agreement

• Car allowance   ​

  • Casual user allowance – 45p per mile

• User friendly IT equipment   ​

  • Provision of essential IT equipment to undertake roles

• Generous relocation package​

  • up to £7,500 tax free

• Castle and Crystal Credit Union (savings and loans)​

• Annual travel pass loan

• Microsoft home user programme

• Car sharing scheme

What we are looking for?

We are keen to hear from you if you have the following qualifications, experience and personal qualities:

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• Social Work England registration

• Extensive experience of working with vulnerable children and their families

• Resilient under pressure

• A thorough working knowledge of professional social work practices and all relevant legislation

• A commitment to recognising children’s voices and encouraging family participation in decision-making

• The capacity to intervene effectively within situations of increasing complexity and challenge

• An effective team player and communicator, you'll be confident in creating and delivering engaging and accurate information to a range of audiences

• Committed to Dudley Council's values and respectful of diversity at all times

• Energy, drive, and commitment to improve outcomes for young people in Dudley