Torbay Council
Standard TC - Children's Services
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Application Deadline: 16 August 2026
Department: Children's Services
Location: Torbay Council
Compensation: £47,181 - £50,269 / year
Description
Job Description & Person Specification > Learning Academy, Children's Services.
Develop the Workforce. Influence Practice. Improve Outcomes for Children and Families in Torbay.
Are you passionate about social work practice and continued professional development? Are you an experienced and enthusiastic Social Worker with a talent for supporting colleagues to grow in confidence, knowledge, and professional capability?
Torbay Children's Services are looking for a qualified Social Work Practice Educator to join our Learning Academy as a Practice Development Advisor.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future workforce by supporting a wide range of learners, including social work students, apprentices, and Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs), to develop into confident, skilled, and effective practitioners.
You will be instrumental in promoting high-quality social work practice through learning, reflection, and development, ensuring our workforce is equipped to achieve the best possible outcomes for the children and families of Torbay.
If you are passionate about learning, development, and excellent social work practice, we would love to hear from you.
Full Time | Grade K | Hybrid Working with expectation of 2 days in office per week
About the Role
As part of our Learning Academy, you will:
- Lead and support Torbay's Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) Programme.
- Provide practice education, mentoring, support, and assessment for social work students and apprentices.
- Coordinate and oversee student placements across Children's Services.
- Design and deliver engaging learning and development opportunities that inspire growth and professional confidence.
- Foster reflective practice, professional curiosity, and a culture of continuous learning.
- Champion restorative and relationship-based practice, supporting learners to apply these principles in their day-to-day work with children, families, and colleagues.
- Contribute to workforce development initiatives and support the implementation of national children's social care reforms.
- Work collaboratively with managers, practitioners, universities, and partner organisations to strengthen learning and development across the service.
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About You
We are looking for an experienced children's social worker who is passionate about developing the next generation of practitioners.
You will have:
- A recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
- A Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) Stage 2 qualification, or equivalent.
- Significant experience in statutory children's social work.
- Proven experience of working with learners, including assessing social work students, apprentices, and/or Newly Qualified Social Workers.
- A strong understanding of social work education, workforce development, and professional learning.
- Excellent communication, coaching, and facilitation skills.
- A strong commitment to restorative, relationship-based, anti-discriminatory, and anti-oppressive practice, and the ability to promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging within learning, development, and social work practice.
- The confidence to challenge discrimination and inequality, whilst creating inclusive learning environments where learners from all backgrounds feel valued, respected, and supported to achieve their potential.
- A passion for supporting others to develop their strengths, build professional confidence, and reach their full potential.
- Knowledge of current developments, local priorities, and national reforms within children's social care and the wider organisation.
Why Join Torbay?
- Be part of a supportive and forward-thinking Learning Academy.
- Influence social work practice and professional development across Children's Services.
- Help shape a confident, skilled, and resilient workforce for the future.
- Work within a service that values restorative practice, reflection, learning, and innovation.
- Benefit from flexible hybrid working arrangements.
- Access excellent employee benefits and wellbeing support.
- Support a workforce that makes a real difference to children and families every day.
Interested?
Help shape the future of social work in Torbay.
This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such, the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information, and a check of either the Adult, Child, or Adult and Child Barred Lists.
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If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/practice-development-advisor-1/
For an informal chat, please contact Sarah Rogers on 01803207195 or sarah.rogers@torbay.gov.uk.
Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 24th August 2026.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.
Skills
Essential:
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both face-to-face and via digital media.
- Ability to contribute to the design and delivery of engaging learning and development content.
- Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and performance assessment of professionals that they do not line manage.
- Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and identify creative, strengths-based solutions.
- Able to critically reflect and analyse own work and that of others.
- This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Knowledge
Essential:
- Skilled and experienced in social work practice and social work practice education.
- In-depth knowledge of local and national reforms and up-to-date research.
- Understanding of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) framework.
- Knowledge of children’s social care legislation and policy.
- Ability to evaluate practice, identify learning needs, and contribute to service improvement.
Experience & Qualifications
Essential:
- Relevant professional social work qualification (to the equivalent of degree/Level 6 or 7).
- Current registration certificate from Social Work England.
- Practice Educator qualification at degree level or above.
- Post-qualification experience as a social worker including extensive knowledge in child development, child safeguarding, and relevant policy and legislation.
- Experience supervising, supporting, and assessing professional learners to include social work students and/or NQSWs.
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