Advanced Practitioner (Consultant Social Worker - Frontline)

Posted 1st Mar, 2024
Location
Merton
Salary/rate
£51,093 – £54,129
Hours
Full-time
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
11th Mar, 2024
About the role

Grade / Salary - ME15 - £51,093 - £54,129 per annum, plus £2,000 market supplement per annum and £963 essential car user allowance per annum. £4,500 golden hello for new starters to Merton subject to passing probationary period.

Are you ready to join us in Merton’s Student Social Work Academy as part of an ‘outstanding’ authority? We have an exciting opportunity for an Advanced Practitioner. The AP post being recruited to reflects the responsibilities of the Consultant Social Worker for a Frontline unit of student social workers. You will need to be a qualified, experienced social worker, registered with Social Work England and with a passion for supporting the learning and development of those entering the social work profession. More details are in the information pack attached to this advert as well as the job description.

Merton has partnered with Frontline and is continuing this successful partnership into the 2024-2025 academic year to grow our future social workers and workforce. If the structure of the Student Social Work Academy team changes, the post holder's duties and responsibilities would be those described within the Advanced Practitioner job description and person specification.

What is Frontline?

Frontline is England’s largest social work charity which aims to develop excellent social work practice, leadership and innovation. In partnership with Merton, Frontline recruits a new, diverse generation of social workers and provides a three-year social work training programme for graduates and career changers.

About you

What is a FL Consultant Social Worker?

The Consultant Social Worker (CSW/AP) role is pivotal to the participants' first year on the programme. Each CSW/AP is responsible for four or five participants who are undertaking their Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. CSW/APs work with participants using a practice hub model approach using a systemic practice model for working with families. Work with children and families is managed through weekly hub meetings which provide a dynamic learning environment and a reflective space to think systemically about the work and intervention with families.

This role offers the opportunity to remain in practice while developing and embedding your own supervisory and management responsibility for a small team. For more information about the exact responsibilities of a CSW/AP, please see the job pack.

What will I get from being a CSW/AP?

The position offers the opportunity to:

  • Step up to a management-level role while remaining in practice.
  • Access to a high-quality systemic training programme.
  • Demonstrate through a portfolio of work that you meet the Practice Educator Professional Standards (Stage 2).
  • Receive support and mentoring from one of Frontline's practice tutors and reflective supervision from your line manager.
  • Influence and shape practice, and practice education, across your local authority.

Please refer to the attached job pack for further information about the interview and the assessment day.

Frontline will be holding a series of national Frontline CSW briefings for anyone interested in the role. If you wish to join a session, please follow this link to book a slot: https://frontline.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpcuGrrDMrHtXMkQACQH6HF8Pi51sHh_J_#/registration

Should you be interested in applying for this role, please complete both the application form via the link to the right of this advert as well as following this link to complete an online application form directly with Frontline. Applications made to only one of these platforms cannot be considered. The closing date for applications is Monday 11th of March at 11.59pm.

If short-listed for interview, the assessment day will take place on Friday 22nd of March 2024.

If you are successful, you will be expected to start in the last week of August or start of September.

For further info about the post please contact Lydia Billington, Team Manager on 020 8545 4247 or 07967 328 086.

About Merton

Merton is an outer borough in southwest London. Suburban in character, the borough has three main town centres: Wimbledon, Mitcham, and Morden. We want our to be a great place for every child to grow up in order to give them the best start in life. To do this, we need the best social work talent working with us. 

We offer a full range of employment benefits to ensure every member of staff feels valued and able to progress:

  • membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
  • wide range of professional development programmes available to enhance your career
  • flexible working
  • generous leave entitlement
  • parental leave and shared parental leave schemes
  • employee assistance programme (EAP) - free access for you and your family to expert advice and guidance on major life events, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year
  • range of lunchtime exercise classes
  • discounted membership to our leisure centres
  • wellbeing programme - wellbeing champions and mental health support
  • occupational health service to help keep you healthy and safe at work
  • contribution towards eye test and glasses for display screen equipment (DSE) users
  • regular walking ‘step count’ challenge
  • Kaarp employee discount scheme - range of leisure activities, from days out to magazine subscriptions, as well as hair and beauty treatments, entertainment events and discounts at local restaurants
  • interest-free season ticket loan for public transport
  • cycle to work scheme
  • adult cycle training
  • running club
  • discounts on selected adult learning courses

If you like the sound of working in Merton, or want to know more about a specific role, please do not hesitate to contact recruitment@merton.gov.uk