Our learning and development offer

Our learning and development offer provides a comprehensive package of training, development, resources, and support delivered through our innovative Centre for Professional Practice.

offer_learning&dev

The comprehensive learning and development programme we offer aims to:

Provide you with the best possible opportunities for your continuous professional development.
Improve the quality of assessments and care planning for children.
Enhance practitioner knowledge, skills, and experience.
Ensure practitioners are able to work with families to develop needs-led, child-focussed care plans from the point of referral through to the end point of a child’s journey.
Ensure effective supervision and management oversight of social work practice, where practitioners feel safe and fully supported.
Ensure that students and newly qualified social workers are better prepared and supported in their practice placements and first year of employment.

We offer:

A bespoke Induction package.
A range of learning opportunities with the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership.
A comprehensive learning and development programme, including a core offer of training for practitioners and managers to support their professional development.
A service-wide Restorative Practice training programme with implementation of practice across all services, delivered by our Restorative Practice Champions.
A range of learning opportunities with the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership.
Online membership to CoramBAAF Adoption and Fostering Academy and Research in Practice.
Excellent staff engagement opportunities with Staff Briefing Sessions, Team Manager Forums, and Principle Social Worker Forums.
A clear career progression pathway, ranging from pre-qualification to established experience. This includes a range of programmes, such as Step Up to Social Work, the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship Programme, the Return to Social Work Programme, the Assessed and Supported Year of Employment, fully funded opportunities to gain Practice Education qualification, and Management and Leadership Apprenticeships.

Whats on offer

E MPLOYEE BENEFITS

PAY

WORK LIFE BALANCE

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 - enhanced entitlements above national average
- Agile working - supporting you to work in an agile way depending on service needs;
- Flexible working - supporting and promoting a positive work/life balance;
- Maternity leave;
- Adoption leave;
- Carers leave;
- Paternity leave;
- Armed Forces Covenant and Special Leave Policy
- Flexible Retirement

TRAVEL

HEALTH

WELLBEING

TECHNOLOGY

MONEY

LEARNING

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

Social Work England registration.
Direct experience of working with vulnerable children and their families.
Show resilience 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 behaviours, and respectful of diversity at all times.
Energy, drive, and commitment to improve outcomes for children, young people, and their families in Dudley.

What looking for