Senior Learning & Development Officer, Pullar House, Perth - PKC12495

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of something meaningful. It's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Senior Learning & Development Officer - PKC12495
£23,932 - £25,781 (18 Hours per week)
Pullar House, Perth

Are you someone who loves enabling learning, is passionate about Social Work, and who is curious and ambitious about creating environments where people flourish?

If so, we are looking for a dynamic, skilled, and experienced Senior Learning and Development Officer. This is a wide ranging role within the Learning and Development Team (L&D), with Practice Learning (PL) as a core part of the Senior Learning and Development Officer role.

Practice learning and its role in the development of Social Work students, practice educators and link workers, in adherence to our Social Work Codes of Practice, is key to the student and staff experience, supporting career progression, professional development, competence and confidence in workers, and directly influences the outcomes of people accessing the service and their carers.

We are passionate about PL and delivering high quality learning experiences for Social Work Students, their practice educators and link workers across the council.

Although based within the Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP), you will work with staff and students within the HSCP, Children's Services and Justice.

You will line manage a small team of SVQ Learning & Development staff, supporting the L&D Team Leader and team. You will also work closely with other Senior Learning & Development Officers to support and develop the infrastructure for Practice Learning.

You will contribute to student supervision, support Link Worker learning & development, manage our small Social Work Sponsorship programme, support staff to access post-qualifying qualifications and represent the learning & development Team at both local and national level conversations in relation to developments in Social Work education or other learning related matters.

As a team, we are committed to our organisational values of Compassion, Ambition and Integrity. We aspire to using these values to support the way we work with the people we serve, to create learning environments conducive to enabling people to flourish.

If you're passionate about making a difference, you thrive in a dynamic environment, and you believe you can bring your unique skills and attributes to this work, we would love to hear from you.

Skills & Experience Required

Knowledge

Essential

• A sound knowledge of and experience in contemporary Social Work practice.
• A sound knowledge of the Standards in Social Work Education, the SSSC Codes of Practice & an understanding of current strategic developments in national social work education.
• Knowledge of adult learning and how to create effective, supportive learning environments for different learners.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the statutory Social Work context.
• Knowledge of SVQ Qualifications.

Experience

Essential

• You will have significant experience as a qualified Social Worker.
• You will have considerable experience of working with Social Work Students and supporting Practice Educators.
• You will have substantial experience of facilitating learning in different contexts, e.g. with groups and individuals.
• You will have substantial experience of Supervision practice.
• You will have experience of line managing staff.
• You will have experience in complex problem solving and using your critical thinking skills.
• You will have experience of working within policies and infrastructures which ensure fair and equitable practice and access to learning opportunities.
• You will have skills in motivating and encouraging learning.
• You will have a creative approach to enabling learning and working with different types of learners who have different needs and preferences.
• You will have skills in leading projects or developments and collaborating effectively with others.
• You will be person centred in your approach and value effective relationships, working collaboratively with members of the workforce in different roles and contexts.
• You are curious and have the confidence to challenge practice as required and as appropriate.
• You will demonstrate critical reflection and analysis in all aspects of your work.
• You will demonstrate leadership skills in working with others to create the best outcomes for learners.
• You will have excellent organisational skills.
• You will be experienced working autonomously and as an effective team member.
• You will be a strategic thinker who can imagine opportunities for development and work with others to implement meaningful change.

Desirable

• Enabling learning programmes at individual and group levels.
• Coaching conversations.
• e-Learning experience.
• Familiarity with Health and Social Care strategy, agenda and standards.
• Developing Learning frameworks and models for implementation.

Technical skills

• Microsoft Office.
• A keen interest in digital and or a willingness to develop your capability in relation to blended learning support to maximise potential for supporting learning.
• On line facilitation.
• Communication skills.

Qualifications

• You will be a Qualified Social Worker, registered with the Scottish Social Services Council and have a Practice Learning Qualification. Ideally you will have studied at Masters Level in a related subject.

Benefits

• Learning and development so you can flourish.
• Team Development.
• Flexible Working.
• PKC conditions.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours.

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 public holidays and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree.

We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Moyra Gill, Team Leader - Learning & Development on 01738 476496 to find out more.

Click APPLY NOW

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Working with children and/or protected adults is regulated work and under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.