Learning & Development
Through the academy, we provide a wide range of formal, social and experiential learning opportunities. Elements of our learning offer are informed by our annual Learning Needs Analysis and Quality Assurance and Audit activities, where key findings and themes are regularly shared with the workforce through regular newsletters and publications. Our core training offer includes Therapeutic Life Story Work, Neglect Graded Care Profile 2 (NGCP2), Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment for Children (DARAC), Trauma-informed Practice and Cultural Competence. We also offer Practice Educator Training, Safe and Together, Contextual Safeguarding and the CSA Centre’s acclaimed Child Sexual Abuse Practice Leads Programme.
Focus on New Town Culture
New Town Culture is part of our offer to practitioners, children and young people to support direct work, the voice of the child, more understanding of cultural identity, intersectionality and professional curiosity. New Town Culture promotes an accredited ‘Creative Social Work’ approach through training, tools, group supervision and interventions that deploy culture and creativity in all areas of social work. In our Specialist Intervention Service our team of Play Therapists lead on therapeutic approaches to direct work and life journey work which can inform your practice.
There are also shadowing and internal transfer opportunities for all staff so that a culture of internal movement between services can be promoted as part of our retention. Our annual all-service sessions align staff with our strategic priorities for the year ahead while providing a platform to celebrate the past year's achievements across every service area.
Monthly management forums provide a regular opportunity for leaders and managers to come together and share learning to continuously innovate and improve practice and our monthly Child Practitioner Council provides opportunities for staff across teams to step up into representing their service to the Director of Children’s Services.
As a member of the North East London Social Work Teaching Partnership, we unlock additional training for our staff. We’re big on ‘growing our own’ - whether you join us as a student, apprentice, or ASYE, we invest in your journey from day one. For our experienced practitioners, we provide the leadership support you need to level up and build a long-term career right here in Barking & Dagenham.
Did you know?
A large majority of those completing the ASYE in LBBD not only remain working for us but also progress beyond the role of social worker. We are proud to share that some are now senior social workers, consultant social workers, senior practitioners and team managers!
In 2025, 93% of Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) appointments were sourced through the student social worker pipeline. This indicates a strong commitment among our social work students to continue their professional careers with LBBD and reflects their satisfaction with the support provided during their placements.
Over 5% of the Children’s Care & Support workforce are levelling up their careers through the Apprenticeship Levy. These include social worker, senior leader, project manager, chartered manager and play therapist apprenticeships. These are fully funded learning pathways, across a range of subject areas from Level 2 – 7.
If you join our service and are looking to sharpen your current skills or pivot into a new specialty, we have a massive range of learning pathways tailored specifically for your role.
Wellbeing
We know how important wellbeing is, but this is more than manageable caseloads, reflective supervision and an Employee Assistance Programme (which of course, we have!)
This is why the CARES Academy have developed Time Out Tuesdays – a protected space built entirely with the wellbeing of our staff members in mind.
Every month, we invite our staff to reset and recharge, to take a step back from the incredible work they do every day with our children, young people and families and simply breathe.
This is more than just a break for our staff; it’s a moment to put themselves first, helping them feel seen, nourished, and deeply valued for the incredible people they are. From reframing the anxiety of change, courageous conversations, handling pressure to thinking about burnout with solutions for change – we have you covered!
In addition to this, we have several staff who are trained Mental Health First Aiders. This isn’t just a badge; it’s a commitment to ensuring that immediate, confidential support is always within reach. By investing in peer-to-peer mental health expertise, we ensure that no one has to struggle in silence and that our culture of care is backed by real action.
Mentoring
All our staff have access to a mentor through our membership of MentorConnect. We understand the value 1-1 mentoring can provide and how it can be a powerful catalyst for professional growth, offering a personalised space to bridge the gap between theory and practice. By pairing experience with ambition, it fosters a culture of knowledge-sharing that builds confidence and sharpens decision-making. Read our mentoring case study – Ashanti Fearon-Kerr: Senior Family Support Worker – Targeted Early Help