Northumberland CC
Best next generation employer
Information
Against a backdrop of national challenges where young social workers are leaving the profession earlier, our social work academy was born. The model that we have developed in adult social care we believe is unique in its structure and operation.
We have a team of three team managers who job is to provide total support to a ‘team’ of eight ewnly qualified social workers for a period of six months. Their role is dedicated to nurturing the NQSWs and equipping them to cope with the demands and complexity of casework, bridging the gap between academia and real-life social work.
Category
Best next generation employer
About Category
This award is open to a single council or where appropriate a partnership of councils, or a council- owned company. Private sector partners can enter on a council’s behalf, with the permission of the council itself.
Local government has an ageing workforce which is only set to compound current skills shortages in the sector. Councils needs to attract more millennials and Gen Z to join the workforce. However, many younger people are not aware of the many and varied opportunities the sector offers for a fulfilling career.
This award seeks to recognise councils or groups of councils working to address that through initiatives to recruit and retain people under 30, either across the organisation or in one specific service area. This could include innovative use of the National Graduate Development Programme, apprenticeship schemes, work with local colleges and universities as well as the provision of development opportunities and other support once employed.
Judges will be looking for evidence of an impact on the workforce demographics as well as an original and creative approach that other councils could learn from, replicate or adapt for their own organisation.
Entries should include:
Evidence of actions and activities to recruit and retain younger people
The thinking behind the approach and how it was developed
How the new approach sets you apart as an employer
Data and evidence to show how the new approach has improved recruitment and retention of younger staff
Evidence of positive impact on the wider organisation
Any obstacles to introducing the new approach and how you overcame them • The voice of managers and staff who have gone through the proces