Social Work Consultant

Are you an experienced children and families social worker ready to progress your career and step into a management role?

Are you passionate about working with vulnerable teenagers across County Durham?

This could be the post for you!

Our ASET team work across the County supporting children and young people who are at risk of, or experiencing, harm outside of the family home, including child exploitation, mental health, radicalisation, and homelessness.

As a Social Work Consultant you will be part of a leadership Team. You will:

• Work in partnership with the team manager to manage a team which carries out meaningful and rewarding work which achieves the best outcomes for children and young people who are at risk of, or experiencing, harm outside of the family home.
• Play a key role in developing the practice of front-line social care practitioners by developing, maintaining and championing expertise in specific areas of work with children and young people; by driving excellent practice based on research evidence and professional experience; and, by supporting achievement of improved outcomes for v children and young people.
• Build and maintain successful working relationships with colleagues from a wide range of agencies.
• Provide support and supervision to a social work assistant who supports the team.

We encourage you to contact Sue Thornton, ASET Team Manager for an informal discussion about the role before you apply. You can contact Sue by e-mail at

Over the coming months we will be investing in strengthening our response to Harm Outside the Home so that we have even more skilled practitioners in Durham who are dedicated to supporting young people who are at risk of, or are experiencing abuse outside of the home, from individuals, groups of people or gangs who are not connected to their family.

Our existing ASET team will be growing to become a Harm outside the Home team. The team will be led by 1 alternatively qualified Practice Manager, and 2 social work qualified Practice Managers who will work closely together to ensure the team best meets the needs of families. Each Practice Manager will be supported by an Assistant Practice Manager, and each team will include both alternatively qualified and social work qualified practitioners.

As Social Work Consultant you will become an Assistant Practice Manager (social work qualified) and report to a Practice Manager (social work qualified). If you would like to know more about our plans or see copies of the new job descriptions please contact our Workforce Transformation and Development Manager Hazel Ostle by e-mail at

We are passionate about social work in County Durham. We are committed to providing a culture where good practice can flourish.

We will ensure you are highly supported. You will benefit from high quality professional supervision, a great induction, and access to our really strong learning and development offer.

We encourage flexible working to achieve a good work-life balance.

You can find out more about social work in Durham here

To apply for this role you will:

• Be a social worker with significant experience of work with children, young people and families
• Be passionate about working with vulnerable teenagers across County Durham
• Have significant experience of identifying and responding to and guiding others to understand and manage risk/need

You can read more about the experience, skills and personal qualities we are looking for in the attached person specification.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and…