Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead

at  Wiltshire Council

The Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead reports to the Principal Social Worker and works closely with the OD Apprenticeship Consultant, OD Practice Education Role and wider team to develop, facilitate, co-ordinate and evaluate the quality of learning provision across the Social Work Apprenticeship programme. This role will line manage the Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Co-Ordinator. The role will develop and maintain strong connections with universities who offer the Social Work Apprenticeship programme and will evaluate the available programmes to ensure a high calibre and quality of learning for practitioners undertaking the apprenticeship within Wiltshire Council. The role will be focused on the overall leadership of the development and coordination of the increasing Social Work Apprenticeships across Adult Social Care under the direction and supervision of the Principal Social Worker.
As well as the practice education of Apprentices through direct observations, assessments, supervisions and other development opportunities required for Social Work Apprentices throughout their qualifying programme. Specific duties and responsibilities include: To use expert knowledge to lead, develop and evaluate the recruitment process for Social Work Apprenticeships in partnership with the Principal Social Worker and OD Apprenticeship Consultant. To work alongside the Principal Social workers and OD Officers to ensure that apprentices receive the best possible support and assessment, coordinating a joined-up program of development across the services themselves, using expertise and judgment to ensure processes are streamlined, give value for money and learning outcomes are achieved. To work in partnership OD Consultants to oversee and manage the coordination and administration of placements for apprentices in consultation with the services, making complex decisions about matching apprentices with placements, while dealing with conflicting requirements or opinions, using personal and negotiation skill to achieve a high level of successful placements.
To develop and build strong relationships with higher education institutions (HEI) as the link professional to ensure that Wiltshire can obtain a consistent high standard of Social Work education via the apprenticeship program. To represent Wiltshire Council and Adult Social Care when attending meetings with HEI, regional and national groups. Ensuring to share knowledge and raise issues, where required, using influence and judgment to achieve business aims and the best outcomes for apprentices. To collate, review and evaluate Social Work Apprenticeship programs across HEIs to continue to develop and innovate the apprenticeship offered within Adult Social Care.
To develop, manage and evaluate the Social Work Apprenticeship programme within Adult Social Care To lead and develop a process to ensure that observations, assessment supervisions and other related activities are taking place in a timely manner and alerting the Principal Social Worker and OD Consultant when issues around quality of practice are identified. Addressing these with the HEI provider. To work with the OD Officers and Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Co-Ordinator to oversee the planning and implementation of Apprenticeship support groups, developing a process to ensure that these occur regularly and that the needs of apprentices are met and evidenced. To ensure and promote the use of Customer Voice throughout the Social Work Apprenticeship program.
To understand and support different apprenticeship programs offered within Adult Social Care and the requirements to undertake. OS12-2703 Social Work Apprenticeship and Development Lead June 2024 Page 5 of 9 To promote the Social Work Apprenticeship across Adult Social Care. To lead in the production of reporting, and analysis of complex data, including quality assurance data to identify targets, researching areas for development which may have a broad impact both internally and externally for partner organizations, to support strategic business planning. To direct the work of colleagues to provide administrative support to the process of Social Work Apprenticeships, particularly in collating and providing accurate records to track progress of apprenticeships, providing oversight, and mentoring to ensure all associated programme administration is completed accurately and on time.
To provide the lead Practice Educator role to Apprentice Social Workers via practice and professional leadership, support, and supervision. To develop a process and lead in the undertaking of observations and assessment of Apprentices/students across their qualifying journey, discussing with the appropriate services and teams, obtaining customer voice and using professional judgement throughout the process, with the support of the Social Work Apprenticeship Development Co-Ordinator. Through liaison with other managers and professionals, build positive working relationships to ensure effective joint working practices. To work closely with the OD Consultant for Social Care and Principal Social Worker to collaboratively provide sector and occupational expertise in social care to colleagues and maintain current awareness of research and developments in social care (e.g., policy changes, national legislation, regulations etc.).
To develop and deliver the training to develop shared quality standards, to provide sector and occupational expertise in relation to area of specialism across adults services and occasionally to support new business development activity. To lead and support OD Consultants and team managers, where necessary, with the ongoing recruitment process of an Apprentice to an NQSW post qualifying from the programme. To line manage the Social Work Apprenticeship Development Co-Ordinator To ensure one’s own practice is informed by up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and best practice feeds into policies and processes to ensure high quality standards are maintained. To operate within Council Policies and keep regularly updated with social work methods, new legislation, and procedures, including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and Human Rights Act 1998.
To uphold standards of practice for social workers as defined by Social Work England and in accordance with the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Workers. To maintain and develop an understanding of the role of a Social Work Apprentice, the requirements they need to achieve to successful pass the course and identify, evaluate and consolidate where further development of training or support is required to support this. To be committed to anti-discriminatory and oppressive practice. Where required, to raise performance issues in relation to an apprentice to the Principal Social Worker and OD Consultant for review and discussion

Please refer the Job description for details