Head of service

Heads of service oversee the daily operations of services, manage staff and work closely with other agencies to promote best practice in social work.

Senior managers

Heads of service are also referred to as service managers or practice leads.

As a head of service you’ll:

oversee, lead and motivate social work teams to ensure effective service delivery
set the strategic direction of the service and identify areas of improvement
develop and oversee relationships with statutory partners such as police and health services
make strategic decisions around risk, crisis intervention and resource allocation
set a culture of continuous improvement to ensure positive outcomes for children and families
manage budgets, make decisions on staffing levels and agree funding for recruitment
set performance objectives, conduct reviews and address issues within social work teams
help foster an inclusive work culture that proactively addresses discrimination

You'll need:

leadership skills to guide and inspire social work teams, set strategic direction and drive positive change
good problem-solving skills and the ability to make decisions while under pressure
strong written and verbal communication skills to engage with teams and external partners
the ability to collaborate with external partners to improve outcomes for children and families
knowledge of policies and legislation relating to child and family social work
an understanding of case management principles, risk assessment and safeguarding
analytical and critical thinking skills to assess risk and resolve complex issues
resilience and emotional intelligence to manage high-pressure situations and support staff well-being

To become a head of service, you must have:

at least three years’ experience in a service manager role, ideally
a proven track record of improving outcomes for children in a leadership or management role

With experience you could:

progress into an advanced leadership role such as assistant director or director of children's services
move into a training and consultancy role and deliver training programmes to social workers
become an expert in your specialist area of social work practice
complete the DCS leadership programme for aspirant directors to help you prepare you to progress to a director of children’s services role

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These resources have been developed by Department for Education.
Published: 18 September 2023
Last updated: 21 November 2025