Professional development faculty

Overview

The professional development faculty is for all staff who are in a permanent or fixed term frontline social care role – this could be either as a social worker, family practitioner or personal assistant. This page provides you with information to support you in your ongoing professional development.

The Academy’s approach to professional development recognises that whilst training has a valuable role in supporting good practice, professional development is far more effective if it includes a breadth of activities for example; case discussion, observation and feedback, reflective supervision, co-working, and involvement in project work.

We believe a strong commitment to learning and development from staff, managers and the service is central to achieving the highest standards of practice across the organisation. To support this commitment please familiarise yourself with our expectations for learning and development activity.

Children’s Social Care Practice model
Devon is currently working to embed a restorative practice based approach to working with Children and Families across Children’s Social Care through formalising a strategic vision for strengths based practice.

Workforce Strategy
Devon’s Social Care Workforce Strategy is currently being developed.

Career Progression
Devon’s Social Care Workforce Strategy is currently being developed.

Development Opportunities
Below are details of the varied learning opportunities that are available to you at DCC.

  • Research in Practice (RiP)
    Our membership to RiP offers a variety of resources to support your ongoing development including; webinars, frontline briefings, case law summaries, research updates.   
  • Devon Children and Families Partnership (DCFP)
    The partnership has many useful learning resources and materials on their website.

    The partnership also offers a variety of face to face learning opportunities, which are regularly reviewed and updated. These are essential to keeping up to date with Safeguarding practice. Look out for what is available here 

  • The Academy
    The Academy provides a varied programme of face to face learning, which is regularly reviewed and updated in line with service needs and priorities. Current examples include:

    • Introduction to Restorative Practice
      “Interactive, thought provoking practical” participant
    • Mental Capacity & DoLS in Children’s Social Work
      “The course was extremely helpful in being able to reflect upon some complex practice dilemas”
    • Succinct and Analytical Writing and Improving Court Skills
      “I will definitely be able to use everything from the 2 days directly in my practice” participant
    • Achieving Best Evidence
      “Lots of reference materials that will be helpful for future practice” participant
    • AIM2 Assessment & Intervention
      “Excellent, engaging, good practical examples linking to theory” participant

    To look for current availability and to book visit DEL – 

  • Supporting a student

    Placement Supervisor and Practice Educator Pathway introduced for those interested in developing their career towards supporting learners.
    The Academy have introduced a new pathway for Social Workers wanting to develop their skills in supporting, teaching and assessing learners. The pathway includes ‘Introduction to Practice Learning’  a 2 day workshop program that prepares Social Workers to support students on placement. From this candidates may then progress to undertaking the 2 units which lead to the Graduate Certificate in Practice Education, (GCPE) also referred to as the Practice Educator Award.

    More information regarding supporting a student please contact childrenssocialworkacademy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

  • DCC corporate learning provision

    As an employee of Devon County Council you also have access to learning provided corporately.