Senior Service Manager, Practice Improvement

Kirklees Council; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Leadership development

LGPS pension

Flexible working

Wellbeing initiatives

Supportive culture

Job summary

Kirklees Council is seeking an experienced Service Manager to lead the Practice Development function within Adult Social Care. This senior role offers strategic oversight to drive practice improvement, strengthen system-wide working, and ensure high quality, legally compliant practice across the service.

As a professionally qualified Social Worker, you will head the Practice Improvement Team, collaborate with health partners, and deliver complex improvement programmes under strong governance and

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification with Social Work England registration and significant post-qualification experience.
• Experience of managing Adult Social Care services, including workforce, budget and resource management.
• Strong knowledge of adult social care legislation, policy, guidance and CQC expectations.
• Experience of leading change, transformation and service improvement programmes.
• Ability to manage complexity across organisational boundaries and partner agencies.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess risk and make well-reasoned, defensible decisions.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship management skills.
• Experience of supporting a learning culture, including workforce development and capability building.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for practice improvement across Adult Social Care.
• Lead and manage the Practice Improvement Team, supporting all operational services to deliver safe, consistent and high quality practice.
• Drive the development and implementation of practice frameworks, policies, guidance and quality assurance activity.
• Lead service transformation programmes, ensuring practice keeps pace with legislation, national standards and local priorities.
• Promote innovation, co-production, and evidence informed practice across the workforce.
• Oversee quality assurance, audit and performance activity, identifying themes and driving system-wide improvements.
• Shape and embed learning and development pathways, working with organisational development to build a strong learning culture.
• Build strong partnerships across the Council and with external partners, supporting integrated working and whole system approaches.
• Ensure robust governance arrangements are in place to drive sustained improvements in practice.
• Represent the organisation at local, regional and national forums relating to practice, quality and innovation.

Skills

Social Work qualification

SW England registration

Leadership experience

Change management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Learning culture

Budget & workforce management

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

Kirklees Council is seeking an experienced Service Manager to lead the Practice Development function within Adult Social Care. This senior role offers strategic oversight to drive practice improvement, strengthen system-wide working, and ensure high quality, legally compliant practice across the service.

As a professionally qualified Social Worker, you will head the Practice Improvement Team, collaborate with health partners, and deliver complex improvement programmes under strong governance and