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
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