About Us

Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us click here.

The ‘Developing Together’ Teaching Partnership began as a Department for Education (DfE) initiative to provide a pre and post-qualifying social work education community, capable of attracting, developing and retaining the best and brightest social workers in the country. The Partnership comprises Achieving for Children, Croydon Children and Adults services, Kingston Adults services, Merton Children and Adults services, Sutton Children and Adults services, Surrey Children’s services, Richmond and Wandsworth Adults services, Wandsworth Children’s services, Kingston University, NSPCC and Welcare. You can find out more about the Partnership on our website: www.developingtogetherswtp.org.uk

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Social Work Teaching Partnership Practice Consultant to enhance professional development opportunities for social work students and professionals across the ‘Developing Together: Social Work Teaching Partnership’. This involves supporting students, Practice Educators, Onsite Supervisors, Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) and early career professionals, while contributing to partnership initiatives and representing the Teaching Partnership at national social care events.

You will be based with Achieving for Children (AfC) and work collaboratively with the Partnership Manager, Programme Lead and partner agencies.

About the role

• Provide leadership on the delivery of specific partnership initiatives related to social work practice and skills, including quality assuring  materials produced by the TP to ensure the material is grounded in theory, evidence, research and practice.
  • Practice Educator, Assessors  and OnSite Supervisors across the partnership, to complement the provision offered by Kingston University
  • NQSWs during their ASYE
  • Those responsible for assessing NQSWs during their ASYE
  • Qualified Social workers, particularly during their years of Early Professional Development (EPD)
• Research, develop, plan, facilitate and evaluate other initiatives and events and training  in line with national Social Care reforms and the Teaching Partnership’s evolving agenda.
• Support with the ongoing Black Voice of Social Work discussion groups and Cross- TP EDI Group, including appropriately sharing key themes and issues arising from these and strategising to make improvements where needed.
• Act as the strategic representative of the teaching partnership nationally at social care events and be the face of partnership events.

You will support Kingston University facing functions that relate to these activities, with the expectation to work within Kingston University 2 days per week, both in person at the Kingston Hill Campus, and online.

If you wish to have an informal discussion about this opportunity please contact Philippa Mann on philippa.mann@achievingforchildren.org.uk

About you

• Be a qualified and registered social worker with a strong background in practice education.
• Bring at least four years of social work experience across a range of environments, with a recent focus on supporting students and newly qualified social workers.
• Experience in researching, developing and delivering training in practice development, as well as facilitating action learning and providing professional reflective supervision.
• Experience in delivering workshops in both in-person and virtual settings is essential.
• Comprehensive knowledge of both adult and children and families social work, including statutory responsibilities, will be key.
• Familiar with university processes related to providing placements during qualifying courses.
• A deep understanding of different approaches to training, education and learning techniques, along with the principles of confidentiality and information governance.
• Skilled in building strong partnership relationships, working collaboratively across multi-agency and multi-disciplinary environments.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential for working with stakeholders, producing robust evidence-based reports, and meeting tight deadlines.
• Be comfortable with basic IT applications and demonstrate an understanding of social work frameworks such as PCF and PEPS.

About our benefits

We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:

• 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month(Or for term term workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract.)
• Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
• Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
• Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• A range of staff benefits and discounts
• An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway

To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children click here. For our social work offer click here. For our Recruitment Journey, click here.

Important Information

Start dates: Achieving for Children have set start dates meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.

Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.

Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils