Practice development managers lead the development of social work teams to promote and support evidence-based best practice.
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 completed a degree, apprenticeship or graduate training scheme in social work
- be registered with Social Work England
- ideally have at least 5 years' experience as a qualified child and family social worker
- 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
You can develop your practice and leadership skills through the self-study social work leadership modules.
Current opportunities
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