Social Work Apprenticeship (Adults)

Summary

We are looking for two enthusiastic individuals to join us as Social Work Apprentices within our Peripatetic Team at Devon County Council .This is a dynamic team that works across a variety of Adult Social Care Services and therefore you will have the opportunity to access a wide range of learning opportunities within the programme.

Wage

£25,992 a year

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£25,992 - £27,711 per annum per annum pro rata, 26 days annual leave per year (rising with length of service) plus Bank Holidays, Local Government Pension Scheme.

Training course

Social worker (integrated degree) (level 6)

Hours

Flexible working opportunities available, including home working. However. this will be subject to the needs of the role. Typically you would be working Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm.

37 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 13 May 2025

Duration

3 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

If appointed, you will be working as a Social Work Apprentice within our Peripatetic Team under the supervision of an appropriately graded Social Worker whilst completing a 3 year Social Work apprenticeship.

Main duties include:

Manage and monitor a workload of cases as directed
Organise work activities taking into account the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities; while ensuring statutory responsibilities are undertaken. This will involve contributing to the assessment of children or adults at risk
Social Work Apprentice to be allocated work as required to role by Team Manager
Social Work Apprentice must have protected time and be released to undertake practice learning, study time and any other programme requirements
Social Work Apprentices employed by Devon County Council will be required to demonstrate the standards of proficiency, conduct and CPD as required by Social Work England
To provide targeted support to people with complex needs: apply skilled interventions either as a response to crisis or as part of longer-term work
To support a high quality and effective social work service to respond to the needs of adults/children and their families in a timely manner and within statutory guidelines, directorate policies, standards and guidelines
To support the assessment of need, plan and deliver focused intervention and support to promote positive outcomes and protect adults at risk
Work with users of social work services and their families with complex needs/situations where statutory intervention is required, under the guidance of a social worker
Use evidence-based knowledge and tools in work with people.
Build honest and productive relationships with colleagues, adults / children and their families
All work performed and duties undertaken must be carried out in accordance with relevant County Council and Departmental policies and procedures, within legislation, and with regard to the needs of our customers and the diverse community we serve

Where you’ll work

Devon County Hall
Topsham Road
Exeter
EX2 4QD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Social worker (integrated degree) (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents

Ensure professional ethical standards are developed, maintained and promoted.
Take responsibility for your decisions and recommendations.
Be aware of the impact of your own values on practice.
Exercise authority as a Social Worker within the appropriate legal and ethical frameworks.
Ensure the highest standard of person centred approach, so that people are treated with dignity and their rights, values and autonomy are respected.
Practise in a non-discriminatory manner.
Hear the views of people who use services, carers, their families and communities, recognise their expertise, and enable their views to have validity and influence.
Promote the best interests of people who use services, carers, their families and communities.
Work with people to enable them to make informed decisions and exercise their rights.
Work to promote individual growth, development and independence.
Undertake assessments of need and/or capacity.
Initiate resolution of issues and use initiative.
Gather, analyse, critically evaluate, and use research information and knowledge in your practice to develop an understanding of the individual’s situation.
Make and receive referrals appropriately.
Use social work methods, theories, and models to enable individuals to identify actions to achieve change and improve life opportunities.
Manage and weigh up competing/conflicting values or interests to make reasoned professional judgement.
Work within scope of practice as an autonomous professional.
Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct.
Manage the physical and emotional impact of your practice.
Identify and apply strategies to build professional and emotional resilience.
Use supervision to support and enhance the quality of your practice.
Maintain your own health and well-being.
Recognise the need to manage workloads and resources effectively.
Keep your skills, knowledge and ongoing professional development up to date.
Show an awareness of current and relevant legislation.
Use a range of research methodologies to inform your practice.
Work in partnership with others
Balance appropriate levels of autonomy within a complex system of accountability
Respond appropriately to unexpected situations, identify and challenge practices which present a risk to, or from, people you are working with, their carers or others in order to uphold professional requirements.
Respond appropriately to signs of harm, abuse and neglect.
Establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries.
Follow health and safety policies and procedures.
Communicate in English at the level required by Social Work England.
Communicate your role and purpose sensitively and clearly, using appropriate language and methods.
Communicate in a way which is engaging, respectful, motivating, and effective, even when dealing with conflict or resistance to change.
Exercise professional curiosity.
Have difficult conversations with empathy.
Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.
Engage with individuals and their families/carers and sustain effective relationships in order to effect change
Engage effectively in inter-professional and inter-agency working to achieve positive outcomes.
Support networks, groups, and communities to meet needs and outcomes.
Maintain accurate and complete records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols, and guidelines.
Prepare formal reports in line with legislation, policies, and procedures.
Critically reflect on/review practice and record the outcomes of reflection appropriately.
Present reports in formal settings.
Use technology to manage your work.
Use technology to communicate appropriately.
Maintain individuals’ information security and protect data.
Advise people on how to use assistive technology.
Promote the use of technology to achieve better outcomes.
Ensure professional ethical standards are developed, maintained and promoted.
Take responsibility for your decisions and recommendations.
Be aware of the impact of your own values on practice.
Exercise authority as a Social Worker within the appropriate legal and ethical frameworks.
Ensure the highest standard of person centred approach, so that people are treated with dignity and their rights, values and autonomy are respected.
Practise in a non-discriminatory manner.
Hear the views of people who use services, carers, their families and communities, recognise their expertise, and enable their views to have validity and influence.
Promote the best interests of people who use services, carers, their families and communities.
Work with people to enable them to make informed decisions and exercise their rights.
Work to promote individual growth, development and independence.
Undertake assessments of need and/or capacity.
Initiate resolution of issues and use initiative.
Gather, analyse, critically evaluate, and use research information and knowledge in your practice to develop an understanding of the individual’s situation.
Make and receive referrals appropriately.
Use social work methods, theories, and models to enable individuals to identify actions to achieve change and improve life opportunities.
Manage and weigh up competing/conflicting values or interests to make reasoned professional judgement.
Work within scope of practice as an autonomous professional.
Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct.
Manage the physical and emotional impact of your practice.
Identify and apply strategies to build professional and emotional resilience.
Use supervision to support and enhance the quality of your practice.
Maintain your own health and well-being.
Recognise the need to manage workloads and resources effectively.
Keep your skills, knowledge and ongoing professional development up to date.
Show an awareness of current and relevant legislation.
Use a range of research methodologies to inform your practice.
Work in partnership with others
Balance appropriate levels of autonomy within a complex system of accountability
Respond appropriately to unexpected situations, identify and challenge practices which present a risk to, or from, people you are working with, their carers or others in order to uphold professional requirements.
Respond appropriately to signs of harm, abuse and neglect.
Establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries.
Follow health and safety policies and procedures.
Communicate in English at the level required by Social Work England.
Communicate your role and purpose sensitively and clearly, using appropriate language and methods.
Communicate in a way which is engaging, respectful, motivating, and effective, even when dealing with conflict or resistance to change.
Exercise professional curiosity.
Have difficult conversations with empathy.
Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.
Engage with individuals and their families/carers and sustain effective relationships in order to effect change
Engage effectively in inter-professional and inter-agency working to achieve positive outcomes.
Support networks, groups, and communities to meet needs and outcomes.
Maintain accurate and complete records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols, and guidelines.
Prepare formal reports in line with legislation, policies, and procedures.
Critically reflect on/review practice and record the outcomes of reflection appropriately.
Present reports in formal settings.
Use technology to manage your work.
Use technology to communicate appropriately.
Maintain individuals’ information security and protect data.
Advise people on how to use assistive technology.
Promote the use of technology to achieve better outcomes.

Your training plan

Social Worker (integrated degree) Apprenticeship Standard:

After successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will gain a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Work (England), which will enable you to apply for registration as a Social Worker with the regulatory body, Social Work England

This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:

Social Work England for Registered Social Worker

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths & English (grade C/4)

Desirable qualifications

A Level or equivalent in:

Suitable practitioner level 3 qualification (grade C/4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Non judgemental
Patience
Working with Autonomy
Working with Children/Families
Time Management
Assertiveness
Resilience
Responsible
Committed
Empathetic

Other requirements

We will be holding an online Microsoft Teams briefing session in collaboration with the Open University which we encourage you to attend. This session will give you further information on the programme and give you a chance to ask any questions you may have. Find out more on the job description by clicking apply now at the bottom of this page.

About this company

At Devon County Council, we work together to improve life across Devon for everyone. We want to create a place that people enjoy living in, as well as a place that you enjoy working.

http://www.workingfordevon.com/ (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Thereafter you will be supported to apply for progression to a Newly Qualified Social Worker role

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

adultcarerecruitment@devon.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000314132.

Apply now

Closes in 2 days (Monday 21 April 2025)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Full details of the apprenticeship can be found on the Devon Jobs website. This is also the location to apply for the role.

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