Workforce Development Lead (Social Work or Occupational Therapy)

Salary: £30 – £42 per hour

1x Full Time 37 hours per week

1x Part Time 30 hours per week

Do you have a passion for supporting and developing professional practice in Adult Social Care?

We are looking for two innovative, highly motivated professionals with strong communication, organisational and leadership skills to be part of our Workforce Development Team, within Adult Social Care and Health at Devon County Council.

You will be driving and supporting the delivery of our learning and development offer in Adult Social Care for the adult social care workforce including students, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists.

We have the following two roles available:

* Workforce Development Lead (Social Work) – Permanent, 37 hours per week

* Workforce Development Lead (Occupational Therapy) – Permanent, 30 hours per week

These are NEW and exciting roles within our newly configured workforce development team. You will have a key role in optimising quality of service delivery, ensuring that our learning and development offer aligns with our organisational values and behaviours; national strategy/policy/best practice; is responsive to the learning and development needs of our workforce; based on what matters to people, as well as the professional standards for Social Work and Occupational Therapy.

This will include:

* Line management responsibility of up to two Workforce Development Officers

* Co-ordinating and leading on student and newly qualified professional programs

* Co-designing, delivering and leading where applicable, the workforce development strategy, including delivering/maintaining a training needs analysis and procuring/commissioning a core learning package for existing staff.

* Leading on specific projects within the team such as equality and diversity, safeguarding, moving and handling, career pathways, quality improvement etc relevant to the service need at the time.

* Developing strategies and plans relating to supervision and Practice Educator training and support

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for two individuals who have experience in delivering practical workforce development solutions and supporting professionals, students and practice educators in their relevant profession. They also need to demonstrate our organisational values and professional values (SW or OT) of their relevant profession. You will also need to have:

* Outstanding prioritisation skills and able to work to tight deadlines

* Excellent communication skills, particularly the ability to manage demanding and challenging discussions sensitively and effectively, and the ability to write concise and clear documents.

* Experience in learning & development, including identifying workforce development needs, developing and implementing workforce development plans, evaluating impact and measuring effectiveness.

* A suitable professional qualification in either Social Work or Occupational Therapy – as required for the relevant lead role.

* Experience of supporting students and practice educators in either Social Work or Occupational Therapy.

* An inclusive people-orientated approach and to be enthusiastic and positive about helping others develop to achieve their potential.

What we can offer you:

* The opportunity to work with a progressive and forward-thinking team

* Professional supervision

* We are committed to your continuous professional development, doing all we can to help you to get the most from your career. You will receive excellent support and supervision, with regular opportunities to discuss and reflect on your practice, both with your line manager and peers.

* We offer 5 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays, rising incrementally to 29 days after 5 years’ service.

* Flexible working opportunitiesare available, these include part-time hours, flexitime, compressed working hours and homeworking (this is subject to the needs of the role – please discuss at further at interview)

* Offer an opportunity to enter a generous Local Government Pension Scheme.

* As a place to live and work, Devon is hard to beat with top-performing schools, universities, vibrant cities, pretty villages and some of the most scenic coast and countryside in the UK. Living and working in Devon has never been more attractive.

* We believe that a positive working environment that allows employees to thrive and achieve is only possible if our staff feel supported. We have a dedicated wellbeing coordinator in adult social care.

If you have the skills and qualities required for this role and are looking to make a difference in supporting a fast-paced front-line service to bring real benefits to your community, we would be keen to hear from you.