Trainee Social Worker (Sensory Service) - Scarborough area
Location: Scarborough (Hybrid)
Salary: £32,076 - £35,745
Contract: 3 years fixed term with a guaranteed permanent role on successfully passing your degree
Do you have an interest in and passion for services and service development in Deaf Culture, Deafblindness or in sight loss? Then why not join our sensory team.
Our sensory service is a key part of our Health and Adult service, committed to delivering services to our local community and providing opportunities for our local residents, ensuring they become more resilient and self-sustaining. The sensory team operates countywide and supports adults with care and support needs who are Deaf, deafened, deafblind or who have sight loss.
We are offering an exciting opportunity to work as a Trainee Sensory Social Worker. 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 the Sensory Team.
You will have knowledge and experience of working in the field of deafness and sensory impairment and be qualified to a minimum of British Sign Language Level 1.
In addition, 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.
We are also particularly interested in any applicants who may have lived experience as a Deaf person or in sensory impairment who meet the minimum requirements for the role. The focus of your work will involve providing strength-based assessments and working to develop creative and person centred solutions.
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.
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 offer 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 and working in the Sensory Team, you must meet the following requirements:
· You must have knowledge and experience of working in the field of deafness and sensory impairment
· You must be qualified to a minimum of British Sign Language Level 1.
· 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 application form will provide you with an opportunity to evidence how you meet the entry level of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), which will include the ability to demonstrate an initial understanding of the importance of personal self-care, resilience and adaptability in social work demonstrate the ability to take responsibility for your own learning and development.
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.
This role will close on 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 Stephen Wright: stephen.wright@northyorks.gov.uk
For further information regarding scheme or the role please view the guidance and the job description here: