Practice development manager

Practice development managers assess the development needs of social work teams and then develop, lead and manage practice improvement projects.

Managers

Practice development managers are also referred to as:

  • practice development consultants
  • practice development officers
  • practice development leaders
  • practice and learning managers

What you'll do

As a practice development manager you’ll:

  • identify knowledge gaps and assess the development needs of social work teams 
  • develop, lead and manage practice development projects 
  • collect and evaluate data to assess the effectiveness of practice models 
  • analyse data to track the performance of new policies to ensure better outcomes for children and families 
  • report on the progress and outcome of development projects to senior managers 
  • manage budgets for development projects and track expenses 
  • support social workers to ensure children and families are receiving high-quality service 
  • work with policymakers to develop public awareness campaigns and provide training for other professionals 

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • decision-making and problem-solving skills to understand complex development needs
  • leadership and management skills to lead practice development projects
  • organisational skills to plan, organise and manage complex projects from start to finish
  • analytical skills to interpret data and trends and make evidence-based recommendations
  • communication and interpersonal skills to influence external partners and policymakers 
  • knowledge of relevant legislation and policies to inform new practice models
  • the ability to adapt to changes in the funding and policy landscape and translate those into practice

How to become one

To become a practice development manager, you must:

  • have been practising as a qualified and registered child and family social worker for at least five years 
  • demonstrate experience of practice development work  

Some employers may prefer candidates who have a post-graduate qualification in a relevant area, such as social work research, leadership or management.

Career paths and progression

With experience you could:

  • progress into an advanced leadership role such as service manager or head of service
  • move into a training and consultancy role and deliver training programmes to social workers
  • specialise in quality assurance and compliance, ensuring standards and regulatory requirements are met
  • develop your practice and leadership skills through the self-study Pathways social work leadership modules

Current opportunities

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Next page: Quality improvement manager

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