Purpose of role

Strategic Social Work Managers: are skilled managers and leaders. They work with stakeholders, including service users, carers, families and communities to deliver change and quality improvements.

Professional leaders at this level are responsible for ensuring Social Work practice and values deliver positive outcomes. They promote local and national research and evaluation to influence and develop Social

Work evidence-informed practice. They lead, motivate and inspire Social Workers and others across organisations ensuring the services provided are effective and responsive.

They are knowledgeable about the communities and the political context in which they work. They promote equalities, inclusion and diversity within strategic decision-making. They advise on the impact of policy and practice for people in more excluded groups or communities. They use their influence within and across organisations working pro-actively to initiate, manage and support change within and across organisations to meet the needs of their whole community.

To attain this role you will

• hold a BA/BSc/MA in Social Work (or equivalent)
• be Social Work England (SWE) registered
• have a relevant leadership qualification or evidence of former and ongoing leadership development

Key knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful in this role

• to demonstrate experience as a skilled manager and/or leader substantial leadership experience within children's social care working with children and young people in a statutory social care setting, including those in need of safeguarding, and looked after and adopted children and young people
• to be able to take responsibility for ensuring Social Work practice and values deliver positive outcomes
• to show skills to be able to lead, motivate and inspire Social Workers and others across organisations ensuring the services provided are effective and responsive
• to be able to model and use critical reflective skills in management, practice or organisational supervision settings to enhance your own, others and the organisation's strategic outcomes
• to take responsibility to ensure that organisational procedures are relevant, reflect effective practice and contribute to better outcomes
• monitor budgets to ensure that decisions are taken to optimise the use of resources
• collaborate with other strategic managers to allocate resources against varying priorities