Rutland is, we’re proud to say, a council where social workers can get closer to those in need. That is, after all, why we do what we do. Just like anywhere else, frustrations and limitations will sometimes rear their heads. But mostly, we can give users the commitment they need. Social workers see cases through from referral to resolution. That’s simply not possible in the larger authorities.
Small also means simpler in many ways. We’re pretty quick. And we’re very straightforward and supportive of each other. While there is a hierarchy in place – it’s essential to have some structure – the day-to-day reality is that we are very “flat”. Leaders’ doors are always open. There’s respect for the fact that we’re all independent, driven professionals, going about our business.
But don’t let our size deceive you. Multum in parvo is the Rutland county motto. It means “much in little” and to our minds it sums up both the area and the council. You might be surprised by some of the big, future-focused things we’re doing, such as rolling out super-fast broadband.
And in many ways because the council is England’s smallest, our social workers can have a bigger impact. Compared with larger councils, they’re entrusted with more autonomy and responsibility. And they get lots of both strategic and operational experience. So it’s an ideal place to hone your skills and take your career to a more challenging level.
Tell us about Rutland
Rutland is one of the most delightful and attractive rural counties in England. And it’s a wonderful place to live, with something for everyone. You don’t have to take my word for it – it came top in Halifax’s Quality of Life survey (pdf) this year. So we’re rightly proud of our heritage. This is a place where people are proud to bring up their families. It’s known for great schools, picturesque historic towns, beautiful lakes and Michelin-starred eateries. However, there is much more to Rutland than this.
What’s next?
The reality is that the role of all councils is changing. That’s due to funding cuts, the integration of health and social services and the new Care Act. Instead of being a sole supplier of services, we’ll have to play our part in a mixed economy, served by a wider range of providers. If we handle it right, it can be a great thing for everyone involved. The payoff will be more personalised services and more self-reliant service users. But we do need to evolve.
On the one hand we’re finding ways to integrate more tightly with our partners. We’re pooling resources and knowledge to meet local government changes head on. And we’re prioritising the services that have the most impact. We’ll be making sure staff get the strong leadership and training they need. And we’ve already made good progress. We have the right leaders in place. And in 2014 we ran the People First review to help us plan ahead. With the findings we’ve signed off on wide-reaching plans that will change how we work with partners and deliver services.
What roles are available?
In children’s social care, we’re looking for a team manager of duty social care. They’ll work closely with delivery teams to safeguard Rutland’s children and their families.
We’re also recruiting a team manager for long term children’s social care – someone to manage delivery of services to partners such as children in need, care leavers, looked after children and those on a child protection plan.
Also on our list of opportunities are principal social worker roles. They’ll support team development, help to plan services and take responsibility for handing complex cases.
We’re looking for a supervising social worker. Responsibilities will include supporting the fostering service and planning services while supervising the team.
Just as crucially, we have opportunities for social workers – to handle cases independently and, of course, to support service planning.
In adult care, we want senior practitioners who’ll support team development and tackle the complex cases. And we’re looking for social workers that can manage cases from referral to resolution, and deliver high quality outcomes for those they support.
What kind of people are you looking for?
Ambitious, motivated people who take their work seriously. The sort of people who will relish wide-ranging responsibility, both strategic and operational. But it’s important to add that they’ll get out at least as much as they put in.
The authority has a strong “One Council” ethos that reflects how all employees contribute in the most effective way to meet the needs of our customers and our community – we hope you share this ethos and we very much want to hear from you.
Find out more about job opportunities at Rutland council here
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