Trainee Social Worker
Location: Scarborough/Whitby/Ryedale (Hybrid)
Salary: £32,076 - £35,745
Contract: 3 years fixed term with a guaranteed permanent role on successfully passing your degree
Our Health and Adult service is an exciting and friendly place to work, committed to delivering services to its local community and providing opportunities for our local residents. We are offering an exciting opportunity to work as a Trainee Social Worker in the Scarborough/Whitby/Ryedale Area. Here you will complete a three year Social Work degree via an apprenticeship route, combining academic study at the Open University with practical work experience. Upon successful completion of the degree, you will be guaranteed a Social Worker role within Adult Social Care.
Anyone with experience within a health or adults social care related sector may apply for this role, however, the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship is a highly intensive programme. Therefore we are looking for people who are able to demonstrate their commitment to a fast paced and challenging programme. You will understand the importance of emotional resilience, and be able to identify how your own learning (formal, informal and experiential) contributes to understanding and developing a social work role.
The core focus of this job is to maximise the independence and safety of vulnerable adults of North Yorkshire who have social care needs. Our ethos is centred on promoting wellbeing and preventing, reducing and delaying need. The main focus of your work will therefore involve providing strength based assessments and working to develop creative person centred solutions, which will include promoting self-directed support and personalisation. Our drive is to embed practice, which is consistently strengths-based, drawing on, and supporting, what people can do for themselves and making the most of individual and community assets to maintain or improve their independence.
As a Trainee Social Worker you will be responsible for undertaking assessments of need with vulnerable adults using the Directorate's procedures, and where required will undertake assessments of need of the vulnerable adults carer(s). You will support adults and carers who have been assessed as meeting the eligibility criteria under the Care Act 2014 to develop appropriate care packages to meet their preferred outcomes within specified resources and to signpost those who do not meet the eligibility criteria to other relevant services and support. You will be able to respond quickly to urgent and changing situations to minimise risk to an individual's safety and wellbeing whilst respecting the person's choices and be involved in raising concerns through safeguarding. You will demonstrate the importance of dignity and respect in all aspects of the role.
This role offers a blended approach to working, with some days spent working from home and other days spent locally. Whilst work can be undertaken from your home base, there will be a requirement to attend the office on occasions due to service need. While virtual working is promoted as a modern and efficient way of delivering services, the need for face-to-face visits will also be required at times, depending on the needs and circumstances of the individual you are working with.
We have a number of students currently completing their Social Work Degree apprenticeship, here is what one person has thought of the experience so far:
“I am in my second year of a Social Work Degree apprenticeship programme within NYCC. This has been a fantastic opportunity for me to continue my dream of being a social worker. The course is demanding but, I am learning so much every day (transferring my existing skills too). The help and support I receive from NYCC shows their commitment; the new learning and the opportunities are invaluable and I am looking forward to progressing to the next stage of my career in social work.
I would welcome anybody who has the determination, passion and drive to apply to become an apprentice social worker!” [Claire – Social Work Apprentice].
In return we can offer you a range of benefits including the opportunity to develop with a leading care provider, a programme of professional support, supervision and training, the challenge of complex and varied work through a manageable caseload and the opportunity to play a key part in the development of our services.
We also offer a range of benefits including generous leave entitlement, a local government pension scheme, salary sacrifice and employee discount benefits.
To apply for a Social Work Degree apprentice with the Open University, you must meet the following requirements:
· You must have at least 12 months’ current experience of working within a Health or Adults Social Care related setting (paid or voluntary);
· You must have GCSE English and Maths (9 to 4 - A* to C) or equivalent (Functional Skills Level 2) and be able to present your certificates at the time of applying;
· Successful applicants will need to apply for an Enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for both Children and Adults.
· You must have basic IT skills including word processing, internet browsing and use of email
· If English is not your first language you must also have International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) communicating and comprehension skills at Level 7.
The Open University are holding information sessions on 21st September, at either 2:30pm or 6:00pm via Teams. If you are interested in attending please contact sally.lichfield@northyorks.gov.uk to register your interest.
The Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) for Entry Level requires prospective candidates to demonstrate awareness of social context for social work practice, awareness of self, ability to develop rapport and potential to develop relevant knowledge, skills and values through professional training. The supporting evidence section of the application form will provide you with an opportunity to evidence how you meet the entry level of the PCF. You should also use this space to support your application with your reasons for wishing to enter the social work profession. We are interested in how clear you are about what social work involves and how your own experience, or ideas from others, makes you think that you would be a good social worker? Lived experience can form part of this section.
The closing date for this role is 8th October & Interviews will take place on 24th October. The university programme will commence in February 2024, although your role may begin sooner than this.
If you wish to have an informal conversation with us prior to applying. Please contact Emma Rimmington emma.rimmington@northyorks.gov.uk