Staff Development Officer
Service: Personnel (Learning and development)
Grade scale: Grade 3 level 4-8
Reports to: Learning and Development Advisor
Purpose of the job
To lead on meeting the learning and development needs for social work and social care staff, their managers and other social work colleagues in South Lanarkshire.
Key tasks and responsibilities
Lead on identifying with senior managers in the SDO’s allocated social work service current and projected learning and development needs. Plan, design and implement strategies to meet workforce learning and development needs. Ensure this work is in synergy with the services resource/service plans and government initiatives at national level.
Lead on selecting, preparing and adapting resource materials to support learning – whether group or individual. Where required originate training and development materials, training exercises & learning experiences. Engage with colleagues to evaluate learning. Lead on developing new methods of learning delivery.
Ensure that learning and development responses are informed by and reflect national, council and resource strategy and policy initiatives and requirements. Make links and establish partnerships with a range of colleagues across South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care partnership. Identify strategic connections and alignment and seek opportunities for partnership working and approaches.
Lead on induction and coaching where required for operationally based new employees into social work resources, including social care staff, and including new social worker assistants, support workers and managers.
Provide leadership in relation to guidance, support & quality assurance regarding registration requirements with professional bodies such as Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and Health Professional Council for the social work service group allocated to the SDO.
Person specification
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Criteria |
Essential |
Desirable |
|---|---|---|
|
Education, qualification and training |
Hold a degree in Social Work or other recognised Social Work qualification Post qualifying experience |
Practice Teacher qualification, Mental Health Officer training or other relevant qualification Specialist qualification in working with adults with dementia, learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder |
|
Skills, knowledge and experience |
Significant post qualifying experience Experience of supporting the learning and development of others Experience of working with stakeholders and multi agencies using a partnership approach Experience of chairing meetings with stakeholders and multi agencies Extensive knowledge of the legal framework governing social work practice and the Health and Social Care standards Excellent interpersonal, communication, written, time management and organisational skills A reflective practitioner Adherence to professional codes of practice |
Experience of piloting and evaluating new ideas to improve service delivery Knowledge and understanding of leadership skills Specialist knowledge in at least one of the following fields including up to date research and service developments: Older people, Learning Disability, Physical Disability/Rehab |
|
Personal qualities |
Ability to work on own initiative and meet deadlines Ability to see and work with wider strategic agendas Willingness to develop skills and competence in delivery of learning and development Inclusive and supportive team player |
|
|
Other |
To work in a flexible, adaptable manner and to always act with discretion and tact To demonstrate behaviours consistent with honesty and openness: treating people consistently, fairly and with respect |
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Safer recruitment checks
As part of our approach to good practice and safer recruitment we carry out a number of pre-employment checks
- Asylum and Immigration right to work in the UK
- Reference check: external candidates require 2 references, one of which must be from their present or most recent employer. Internal candidates require 1 reference from their current line manager
- Candidate Disclosure Scotland check, where applicable
Behaviour framework
The council’s behaviour framework is a set of core behaviours that defines how employees approach work to enable the delivery of key tasks for the role. The expected behaviours for this role are:
Efficient
- Punctual and conscientious in your approach to work
- Use council resources efficiently, avoiding waste and unnecessary expense
- Identify inefficiency in processes and communicate this to your manager
- Meet deadlines and targets in your day-to-day work
- Understand the impact of wasteful behaviours on the environment and you act to minimise this impact
Flexible
- Willing to learn new tasks and accept new ways of working
- Willing to be flexible in your approach to work to meet changing service delivery needs, deadlines, and urgent priorities
- Help team members when they have urgent deadlines and prioritise your work accordingly
- Understand the need for change and are open to this across your working life
Performing
- Is polite, professional and friendly to customers and apply customer care standards and attitudes at all times
- Works safely to maintain the safety of yourself and other raising concerns about unsafe working practices
- Meets standards of work required in your role in terms of quality and output
- Uses initiative to solve problems and raise potential issues
- Acknowledges when mistakes are made and learns from them
- Seeks feedback on your performance to learn and improve
Working with others
- Works alongside internal and external colleagues to meet common objectives
- Has professional relationships with colleagues and is aware of dignity at work standards
- Actively and respectfully listens to people in order to understand them and their views
- Contributes appropriately in team and other meetings and discussions
- Presents words and views clearly in a way that other people find meaningful
- Respect diversity and promote equality of opportunity when working with colleagues and members of the public
Leading
- Role models the standards of behaviours expected of a South Lanarkshire Council employee
- Displays and enables leadership through sharing knowledge and skills, seeking guidance and providing support to your colleagues, team and the wider community
- Is aware of and adheres to professional codes of practice and the council’s code of conduct and understand how these impact on employment with the council and public perception of council employees