Practice Improvement Lead – Resource and Provision – WMF1348e
Westmorland and Furness
Salary: £44,428 - £45,441
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Penrith, Kendal, or Barrow
Contract: Fixed Term 12 months
The advertised salary includes a supplement (JWC) to the base grade of the post. JWC supplements are conditional on the physical demands and /or working conditions of the role.
About this opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity to join Westmorland and Furness Council as a Practice Improvement Lead within the Service Improvement Team, with a focus on Resource and Provision.
Are you interested in supporting the Service Improvement Team to review our resource and provision and drive change and progress for child, young people and young adults to ensure they have the right placement at the right time?
We are looking for a creative, ambitious and experienced qualified social worker who has practice knowledge, understanding and experience of working with cared for and care experienced young people.
Working closely with the Service Improvement Leads you will respond to key focus areas of practice;
Working with partner agencies to create a culture where everyone is ambitious to be the best ‘parent’ for cared for and care experienced children and young people, asking themselves whether the services and support provided would be good enough for their own child.
Undertaking sufficiency planning and work with other local authorities and partners to jointly invest in care options that meet the future needs of children.
Supporting the building of strong relationships with local health services so that cared for and care experienced children and young people can access the physical and mental health support they need.
Supporting our care experienced young people to live in safe, suitable accommodation, with a wide range of accommodation options available to young people and appropriate levels of support that meet their individual needs.
Be ambitious to increase the number of our care experienced young people in further education, higher education and apprenticeships. Working with local partners to remove barriers to these opportunities, creating and improving access to education, employment, and training, including within the local authority
Westmorland and Furness Council was officially formed in April 2023, which means this is an extremely exciting time to join us, we have made great progress in our journey to deliver innovative and impactful services.
In July 2024, our Children’s Services have received a rating of “Good” overall following their first routine Ofsted inspection since replacing the former Cumbria County Council.
Ofsted recognised significant improvement has been made in the council’s first year as a new council and highlighted how the council has established its own unique identity, concluding that the overall effectiveness of children’s services at Westmorland and Furness Council are “Good”.
Despite the positive inspection result, we are determined to continue our improvement journey in children’s services and achieve our ambitions and objectives for every child in Westmorland and Furness.
At Westmorland and Furness, we recognise that a permanent and stable workforce is an essential part of improving outcomes for children and young people. So, we make it our priority to ensure all our workers have the guidance, support, culture, environment, and tools to be able to do this work well. We are proud of the culture that we have created, our staff tell us they enjoy working for the organisation, it is important for us that staff continue to feel valued and want to work for us. Our workforce are highly skilled, compassionate and committed to making a difference to our children and their families. We are committed to providing a robust package of support to guide you through your social work career and aid your continuous professional development.
If you have the skills and experience required to drive forward practice and improvements forward, we welcome your application!
If you are interested in what you have read and would like to have an informal discussion, please contact: emma.jackson@cumbria.gov.uk
Application and Interview information
Closing date: 15th September 2024
Interview date: 25th September 2024
We are now operating virtual interviews. This will preferably be undertaken using the Microsoft Teams software which is currently free for new users, however if there are any issues with accessing this technology, we are happy to discuss alternative arrangements prior to the interviews.
Options will be discussed with candidates once they have been invited to the interview stage of the process, and if you have any concerns or adjustments are needed, we are happy to discuss.
DBS
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and requires an enhanced DBS check with a Children’s and Adults Barred List check.
Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with adults and Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with adults and Children.
What we can offer you
Westmorland and Furness is a modern, vibrant place to work offering a range of staff benefits, including:
*Excellent training and development offers
*Flexible working opportunities
*Opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme
*Various perks and discounts schemes, including money off your phone contract and local gyms
*Competitive rates of pay
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
As an equal opportunities employer, Westmorland and Furness is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Westmorland and Furness Council.
Please read the Supporting Information:
Post Specification
Role Profile
