Practice Development Manager - Targeted Intervention Service (For Baby's Sake)

Contract Type: Temporary until March 2020

Contract Hours: 37hrs

Salary: Grade H3, £38,052. - £41,846. plus weekend/evening work increments (2 incs)

Please note the salary figures stated above will be subject to a 2% increase with effect from 1^st April 2019

We focus on safeguarding children and improving their outcomes, but we don’t forget our workforce

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Practice Development Manager to join us to deliver

‘For Baby’s Sake’…an innovative programme created by the Stefanou Foundation in response to growing evidence of the life-long mental and physical health risks for babies who are born into families where there is domestic violence and abuse (DVA). It is an intensive support programme lasting up to two and a half years for expectant co-parents where there is domestic abuse or violence in their relationship. The programme takes a unique approach to address the complex realities of abusive relationships, recognising that, in order to make long-lasting change, the needs, risks and motivations of both those experiencing domestic abuse and those using abuse must be addressed, in addition to safeguarding and nurturing the baby and any other children in the family.

For Baby’s Sake is a manualised intervention with a structured therapeutic core component, delivered to mothers and fathers from the antenatal period up to when the infant is two years of age. The Stefanou Foundation has worked with the Better Start Partnership and Blackpool Council to create an innovative model of collaboration to address those complex issues for individuals who often prove the most resistant to change.

The programme seeks to break the cycle of domestic abuse and create the conditions for resilience by providing the stability, support and nurturing conditions to allow babies and children to flourish.

This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of our well established Targeted Intervention Services, to deliver a ground breaking evidence based programme and to contribute to research that will shape the delivery of services.

We are searching for candidates who have a sound therapeutic background, can apply their knowledge of domestic abuse and who have experience of engaging families with complex vulnerabilities. 

There is a requirement for regular evening and weekend working and a 7 day rota is in place.

Join us on our improvement journey

Children’s Social Care in Blackpool is on a journey of change and improvement and we are seeking highly talented and ambitious people to join us.  

The Blackpool caseload commitment will become a reality, which allows you the time to focus on undertaking quality child centred Social Work.  You will have the time to focus on the child as well as yourself, your own development and career ambitions.  At Blackpool we have structured career pathways, which start from the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment all the way up to Head of Service, so there is no journey too big or too small at Blackpool.

You will be joining an ambitious service with clear lines of support. As part of the Blackpool Children’s Services Workforce Commitment: 

• Dedicated two week induction programme
• Manageable caseloads for every Social Worker and IRO
• Dedicated time for quality reflective supervision and learning from regular quality audit
• Small teams with clear line team management and practice development support
• Protected induction programme
• Excellent Learning and Development opportunities with bespoke training for every social worker and our Management and Leadership Team
• Social Workers and Team Managers have easy and regular access to the Leadership Team and Principal Social Worker
• Practice Development Manager mentoring support

We are confident that with your support, we will provide good social care services to our children in Blackpool, as set out in our Improvement Plan. In return we ask that you bring your dedication, skills and your own commitment to help us support children to be safe and improve their outcomes.

Quote by Blackpool Young People:

“Everybody knows Blackpool. Seaside town up North, with rollercoasters, a Tower, three piers and an award winning theme park – the UK’s No.1 holiday destination! But it’s not just a town for visitors. Some of us live here, we’ve grown up here and we’re in school here and things can be tough at times. Some of us young people care about our town and want to be part of making Blackpool a better place to grow up, live, work and thrive in. That’s where you come in! Are you the kind of person that loves a challenge? Are you passionate about social justice and wanting to make a difference to the lives of all of us young people? There are lots of reasons why working in Blackpool is great. Mainly, because you get to work with the best young people in the country! We genuinely have a voice in Blackpool – we were asked to be involved in this advert for example, and we’re involved in lots of other stuff, so you’ll probably get to meet us at your interview too.”

Blackpool Council welcomes applications from all the community.

We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in employment and service delivery.

We offer a generous package including relocation expenses the following benefits - http://www.nextstepblackpool.com/work/social-work/benefits/

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/vulnerable adults. This post is subject to satisfactory two year reference history, Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, medical clearance, evidence of any essential qualifications and proof of legal working in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.