Off-site Practice Educator (OSPE) - (8171)

Manchester Metropolitan University is looking to recruit suitably qualified and experienced social workers to join our bank of off-site practice educators (OSPE's) who work with students on both our BA and MA social work qualifying programmes across Greater Manchester and the Northwest.

To be successful in the role you must hold current registered social worker status with Social Work England and a stage 2 Practice Educator qualification. You must have supported at least two social work students on either 70 or 100 day placements and demonstrate you are able to adhere to the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) in your work. This includes being committed to undertaking continuous professional development activity for example through engaging with learning opportunities provided through our local teaching partnership – Greater Manchester Social Work Academy (GMSWA) www.gmswa.co.uk   

We are looking for individuals with a range of post-qualifying experience as a practising social worker in any relevant settings, including undertaking statutory work and knowledge of legislation and practice guidance. You may also have gained valuable experience through working in private, voluntary or independent settings.

You should have at least 2 years post-qualifying experience and the capacity to supervise, guide, assess and support the work of others. Prior coaching or mentoring experience would be a valuable asset. Knowledge of the professional capability framework (BASW) and the Social Work England Professional Standards is essential in supporting students to develop their practice knowledge and skills.

This is an excellent opportunity to consolidate and develop your skills further and to really make a positive difference supporting students on their learning journey. You will work closely with others such as on-site supervisors, managers and university staff to plan and manage the students learning opportunities on placement. You will be required to support students who may have a range of additional learning needs or who might be struggling on placement. You will be expected to contribute to the university's formal concerns process and also to support with quality assurance of placement settings. There may be other opportunities to support the work of the university depending on your skills, experience and availability for e.g. contributing to teaching, inspections or stakeholder groups.

Fees

You will be paid a fee in your OSPE role upon the successful completion of each student placement on an agreed time worked basis: 70 day placements = £770 per student, 100 day placements = £1100 per student. Travel costs to placement settings are included within these fees. Please note these fees are subject to review by Manchester Metropolitan University.

Contracting

You will be required to sign a contract with Manchester Metropolitan University for the provision of practice education services for each academic year that you remain on the OSPE bank. You will be expected as part of this process to show that you have current professional indemnity insurance. You will also be provided with access to a university email account and registered on our PARE system for access to relevant student portfolio's.

Professional Development and Support

The University practice learning team (PLT) will support you in your role and can offer guidance where necessary. This includes access to a range of resources such as the placement handbook, supervision and meeting templates. Regular online meetings are held during placement periods to support all staff involved, these provide information to remind people of the process when planning for the start of placement, interim reviews and placement endings and are also opportunities to ask questions. The practice learning lead is responsible for managing all OSPE's and is a first point of contact for support or guidance around any issues.

The Greater Manchester Social Work Academy (GMSWA) offer a range of continuous professional development opportunities which include topic based masterclasses, online resources and an annual practice learning conference.

Application

As part of the application process you will be required to upload and/or evidence the following:

• A copy of your current CV
• Your Social Work England registration number
• Copies of your Practice Educator Award certificates
• DBS number and expiry date
• Two references including your current or most recent employer.
• Evidence of supporting at least two students on placement.

Interviews

These will be held online using MS Teams. If successful at the application stage we will contact you directly to arrange a convenient time. These will be facilitated by two members of the practice learning team and will last no longer than 1 hour.

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, particularly those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.  

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.  

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.