About Us
West Sussex County Council is all about making a positive difference to the people we work with and their communities. We can honestly say that flexible working and a focus on work life balance really is the culture here at West Sussex County Council.
This is a wonderful opportunity for a Professional Practice Development Worker to join a supportive and welcoming team really making a difference. We are looking for a motivated self-starter with a passion for supporting enriching and customer focused professional development for registered and unregistered social care practitioners.
The Quality, Practice and Service Development (QPSD) Team provides professional leadership to Adults’ Services, in relation to quality professional Social Work, Occupational Therapy and Social Care practice, including administration of a Quality Assurance Framework.
QPSD supports continual professional development of staff, ensuring opportunities to share learning and best practice. The team works collaboratively to develop, enable, and embed practice and systems to assure quality in the provision of services to those who have social care needs in West Sussex. There is also the opportunity to work with people who use our services and their carers to co-produce meaningful involvement across professional development programmes.
The team has a supportive and caring culture and that shows in their everyday work but don't just take our word for it hear directly from the team:
‘This is a supportive and nurturing team, and the role has helped me develop my professional skills, knowledge and confidence. I get job satisfaction knowing that I am making a difference to the workforce and to customers, and the flexible nature of the role gives me a good work/life balance’
About The Job
Our Professional Practice Development Workers provide expert knowledge and support to social care practitioners, newly qualified staff, apprentices and and students with their continuous professional development (CPD). You will also support to manage and co-ordinate programmes of CPD. It will also include some on-going physical effort in the pursuit of training delivery, which is integral to the role e.g. in-person delivery of training sessions and transport of associated training materials and equipment.
As an expert sharing knowledge and skills, you understandably need sufficient experience and expertise in Adult Social Work or Occupational Therapy. It is key to understand and support initiatives within WSCC and develop appropriate support and training responses, sometimes working with external partner organisations. The role would support and build upon the current partnership work with Chichester University, including but not limited to, the Practice Education qualification for Social Workers, the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment for social workers as well as the Occupational Therapy master's module, and enabling and supporting placements for students and apprentices.
Experience and Skills
Key Skills (these are the short-listing criteria so please cover in application):
- Ability to interpret policy and develop guidance and processes, which meet legislative, strategic improvement and business needs, including working with colleagues and partners.
- Ability to research, analyse and interpret complex or technical information to make effective decisions and write reports, which consider both business and strategic implications, articulate recommendations, considering the broader impacts. Ability to assimilate information, consider the issues/risks/resource implications, and persuade stakeholders to adopt the most appropriate course of action.
- Excellent, verbal, written and presentation skills with the ability to influence the actions of others and communicate information, which may be complex and/or contentious. Including the ability to undertake facilitation of issues in group settings, gain engagement/buy-in and agreement from others by successfully convincing others of the need to adopt appropriate policies and/or courses of action.
- Ability to anticipate problems, such as individuals’ failure to progress within professional development programmes, impact on programmes arising from strategic decisions, plan solutions and make decisions, particularly in relation to professional progression, capacity, capability, flexibility and engagement.
- Ability to think laterally and to adapt to changing situations when supporting ASYE / Early Practice Framework, apprenticeships, and cpd, in a measured and flexible manner.
- Well-developed observational, assessment and recording skills
Salary, Contract Information & Rewards and Benefits
Salary: £45,441 to £48,474
Working pattern: Full time 37 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent
Locations: Office base Chichester with travel across the County, with some hybrid working.
Closing date: 5th April
Interview date: 24th April
For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page
Further Information
The reference number for this role is CAFHE05093.
For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Simone Johnson (Service Development Lead) at simone.johnon at westsussex.gov dot uk. For issues or queries regarding your application please contact hrrecruitment at westsussex.gov dot uk.
To apply, upload your CV and complete the application explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to Social Work England registration/HCPC registration, an enhanced DBS check, 5 years referencing and a health check.
West Sussex County Council is an equal opportunities employer committed to promoting an environment that is inclusive and free from all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination and values the diversity of its people. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and take every possible step to ensure that no individual will be disadvantaged.
For information regarding your eligibility to apply for this role under our Disability or Veteran’s Guaranteed Interview Scheme, this can be found on our application help page.
Note for Recruitment Agencies: We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you!
Job Reference: CAFHE05093