Jobs

Do you want your work to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in our care?
 
This is a brilliant opportunity to join a new team in a new role where your focus will be on ensuring children and young people in our care get the right support at the right time, while securing the best value for money. 
 
This post is temporary for 2 years, however there is the possibility of it being extended beyond this point in the future.
 
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
You will be joining our small Durham Cares Sufficiency Programme Team, a brand new team with a clear purpose.
 
As one of two Care Resource Specialists, you will review individual care packages for children and young people, working closely with the care team to understand the needs of the child or young person, and with providers to identify opportunities to reduce expenditure without compromising outcomes.
 
You will: 

• Take a lead role in reviewing care packages, particularly high-cost placements
• Work with social workers, providers and partners to ensure care packages meet the needs of children and young people and are appropriate, effective and deliver value for money
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs through negotiation, alternative provision, and smarter planning
• Develop and embed new systems and processes to monitor placements, costs and outcomes
• Contribute to care planning meetings and influence decisions about support arrangements
• Track trends and outcomes   

If you would like to know more, we encourage you to contact Lindsey Herring, Durham Cares Sufficiency Programme Manager by e-mail at lindsey.herring@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role.  
 
WHAT WILL I NEED?
To apply for this fantastic new post you will need a relevant degree and/or professional qualification) and experience of: 

• Building effective relationships and working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders
• Budget monitoring and cost control
• Developing plans and monitoring outcomes
• Gathering, analysing and interpreting data and preparing analytical reports
• Working with competing demands and pressures
• Having brave and kind conversations, challenging others constructively when needed

Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria. 
 
INTERVIEWS
Interviews are expected to be held on 26 June 2026 at Spennymoor Council Offices, DL16 1JQ.
 
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
 
OUR OFFER TO YOU
We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

We are committed to providing a culture where you can flourish. We will ensure you are highly supported and we encourage flexible working to achieve a good work-life balance.
 
You will benefit from a range of training opportunities and professional development.
 
HYBRID WORKING
Durham County Council currently operates a hybrid working policy where a model of 2 days in the workplace and 3 days at home/remote will apply. This model is pro-rated for part time roles and arrangements are at managers discretion, alternatively you can work all of your contracted hours within the workplace if you prefer

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
 
HOW TO APPLY 
Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted.
Please visit our website to understand our position on using AI to support your application and for guidance on completing your application.
 
If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk
 
All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.
 
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Company: Durham County Council

Salary: Grade 10 £38,220 - £41,771

Location: Spennymoor, Durham

Sector: Health and Social Care

Sector: Social Care

Job Role: Support Worker