This is a new service – your feedback will help us to improve it.

Service manager

Oversee and lead social work teams to ensure effective service delivery.

You'll oversee the performance and quality of practice of multiple teams of social workers across a service area.

Service managers are also referred to as:

  • service leads
  • area managers
  • operations managers

What you'll do

As a service manager you’ll:

  • oversee and lead social work teams to ensure effective service delivery 
  • manage team resources including caseloads, staffing and budgets 
  • monitor and evaluate service outcomes and identify areas to improve outcomes for children and families 
  • work closely with external partners to develop policies and ensure coordinated service delivery 
  • work with senior managers to set the strategic direction of the service 
  • support social workers to ensure their supervision, training and well-being needs are met 
  • carry out recruitment and performance management
  • report on service performance and develop improvement plans 
  • carry out audits to ensure services are compliant and delivered to a high standard

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • strong leadership and management skills to motivate and inspire teams of social workers
  • knowledge of relevant legislation, national policies and best practice guidelines
  • strategic thinking to drive service improvement and achieve organisational goals
  • knowledge of budgeting, resource allocation and financial management
  • experience of supporting professional development across teams
  • the ability to monitor, evaluate and manage performance to ensure quality service provision
  • strong organisational skills to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

How to become one

To become a service manager you must:

  • have completed a degree, apprenticeship or graduate training scheme in social work 
  • be registered with Social Work England
  • have significant post-qualifying experience as a qualified child and family social worker
  • have leadership and management experience in a social work setting

You can develop your practice and leadership skills through the Social work leadership pathways programme.

Career paths and progression

With experience you could:

  • progress into an advanced leadership role such as head of service, 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

The upon: aspirant directors programme can help prepare you to progress to a director of children’s services role.

Current opportunities

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