Job Summary
Working Pattern:
Full time
Advert Start Date:
24/09/2026
Advert End Date:
11/10/2026 23:59
Allowances:
Essential Car User Allowance: £1239 per annum and 2% Recruitment and Retention Allowance paid monthly
Job Category:
Social Work - Children Service
Employment Location:
Sandhill Centre and Various Locations
Further Information
Consultant Social worker, Practice Development Team
Salary: Grade 9 (SCP 37- 41) £ 49,818 to £54,413 per annum plus an Essential Car User Allowance: £1239 per annum and 2% Recruitment and Retention Allowance paid monthly
Permanent/Full Time - 37 hours per week Monday - Friday
Location: Sandhill, however as part of the role you will be required to routinely work around the various office locations across the city.
Closing date: 11/10/2026
Interview Date: 16/10/2026
Join our Team
Together for Children Sunderland is on a transformative journey to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people in Sunderland. We are an outstanding Ofsted-rated Children’s service, if you’re committed to helping children, families, and our community thrive and have the skills to support our mission, we would love to hear from you. You can learn more about us here: Together for Children.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Consultant Social Worker to join the Practice Development Team to play a key role in implementing the Families First agenda and supporting the development of new ways of working across Children's Social Care.
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled practitioner who is committed to supporting social work teams to deliver relationship based, family led practice that keeps children safely within their families and communities wherever possible.
As a Consultant Social Worker, you will work across services to support teams and leaders in embedding the principles of the Families First agenda. You will act as a practice expert, helping social workers to develop confidence and capability in delivering innovative, strengths based approaches.
You will:
Support the implementation of the Families First agenda and associated practice developments.
Work alongside social work teams to embed new models of practice and ways of working.
Design, develop and deliver training and development sessions to the workforce across TFC.
Support quality assurance processes including audit and collaborative learning approaches.
Provide coaching, mentoring and reflective support to practitioners and managers.
Facilitate learning and development opportunities to strengthen practice.
Identify barriers to change and support teams to develop practical solutions.
Use evidence, data and feedback from children and families to drive continuous improvement.
Promote a culture of collaboration, learning and high quality social work practice.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. We will also carry out an online internet search for information that is publicly available online that might suggest that you are not fit to work with children or young people.
We want you to apply if you:
Have a social work qualification with a minimum of 3 years post qualifying experience.
Have experience of working within Children and Families Social Work from the point of referral throughout their social care journey.
Please contact paula.steel@togetherforchildren.org.uk for an informal discussion.
Why work with us?
Make a difference: Our work matters. The work we do is incredibly rewarding. Join us and make a difference in the lives of our children, families, and community.
Inclusion: Thrive in our diverse and inclusive culture and be part of our employee networks, including Accessibility, LGBTQ+, Racial Equality, Armed Forces and Menopause.
Work-Life Balance: We offer a hybrid model of working with agile and flexible working arrangements, including part-time opportunities, flexible hours, and the possibility of remote work arrangements.
Professional Development: Advance your career with our comprehensive induction, supervision, peer support, and supportive environment.
Be part of a happier, healthier workforce: Benefit from our wide range of wellbeing activities and employee assistance programmes.
Attractive Salary, Benefits and Rewards: for additional information please follow this link Together for Children Benefits and rewards
What our team think: About Us
We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to various ages, disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, beliefs, races, and ethnicities. We aim for our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
We are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. Please reach out to our EDI Lead Inclusion@togetherforchildren.org.uk. or peoplesupport@togetherforchildren.org.uk so we can discuss any adjustments or support we can provide during the recruitment process or within the workplace.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked-after young person, are care experienced, or are a veteran.
Are you ready to make a difference?