Staff development
At Gateshead we have an in house Social Care Academy. In our Academy we support our Newly Qualified Social Workers on their ASYE, our Social Work Apprentices, University Students on placement and our in house Leadership and Management Programme for our staff progression.
At Gateshead we believe our staff are our most important resource. We also believe that continuous learning is essential to the improvement and progress of services, and it is essential to maintain a high standard of service offered to our Gateshead residents.
We invest in our staff and want to make sure you have the right skills and experience to really Thrive in your role. In return, we expect a high quality of social care practice.
To help you achieve this we have developed clear practice standards covering core social work activities. Our job in children's services is to make sure we protect children from harm and promote their wellbeing. We aim to create a passion for practice that enables relationships to flourish, putting children and their families at the heart of everything we do.
Our principles
Systemic working in practice
Systemic Practice takes a relationship-based approach, understanding difficulties and change as occurring within relationships, communication, and context rather than being situated within the child. It approaches change through a relational way of working that aims to bring out, share, and respect the stories and strengths or all involved to enable a constructive way forward.
Our approach
Strength based and narrative approach
A strength based, solution focused approach to children's social work. It's an overall approach which draws on all the tools, techniques, methods, and models from all strength-based, person-centred practice. Using the narrative approach ensures that our language is accessible and understood by our families.
Our relational behaviours
Work to:
Identify and build on family strengths. Build on what works, create the right environment.
Work as:
An agent for change. Build purposeful and respectful relationships.
Work with:
The whole family and wider networks. Build lasting family and community relationships.
The restorative interventions
- restorative solutions
- family finding
- family group conferencing
- life long links
Our objectives
- have a passion for practice
- improve family strengths and reduce dependence
- manage and reduce risk
- maintain purposeful relationships
- least prohibitive intervention (CA 1989)
- reduce time in care
You will have committed management support to make this happen including:
- clear expectations on you and your role within Gateshead
- regular supervision to a minimum of every 4 weeks and in line with Gateshead's Supervision Policy
- comprehensive learning and development offer
- monthly team meetings including group supervisions and unit meetings
- quarterly full service briefings lead by our senior management team where we listen to our staff and make real changes
- we have introduced an Annual Childrens Services Conference to bring together all of our staff in Social Care and Education