Service Manager – Practice Development

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Leadership development

Public sector pension

Flexible working

Wellbeing initiatives

Values-driven culture

Job summary

Kirklees Metropolitan Council in Huddersfield invites applications for an experienced Service Manager to lead the Practice Development function within Adult Social Care, shaping practice improvement, governance and cross-agency collaboration. You will oversee Practice Improvement Team, drive frameworks, policies and QA, and lead service transformation to align with legislation and national standards.

The role offers permanent employment with opportunities to influence workforce development 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

Strategic leadership

Change management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Relationship management

Learning culture advocacy

Education

Social Work qualification with SW England registration

Job description

We are looking for an experienced, motivated and forward-thinking Service Manager to lead our Practice Development function within Adult Social Care.

This is a key leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape and drive practice improvement across the service, strengthen system-wide working, and ensure consistently high quality, strengths-based and legally compliant practice.

As a professionally qualified Social Worker, you will lead a dedicated Practice Improvement Team focused on transforming and strengthening Adult Social Care practice. You will work across operational teams and with key partners, including health, to ensure practice is joined up, evidence informed and aligned to organisational priorities.

You will have accountability for delivering a range of complex improvement programmes, alongside the Principal Social Worker, to support a culture of continuous learning, reflective practice and innovation.

Our focus is on high quality, safe and consistent practice, underpinned by strong governance, workforce development and a clear commitment to improving outcomes for the people we support.

You will work with the Head of Practice too:

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

We are seeking a values driven leader who brings:

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

You will join a supportive, collaborative leadership environment with a strong focus on learning, improvement and innovation. You will work closely with the Head of Practice (Principal Social Worker) and wider leadership team, with real scope to influence practice, workforce development and system-wide improvement across Adult Social Care.

This is a permanent position, offering stability and the opportunity to make a sustained impact on practice, systems and outcomes across the service.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• High quality learning and leadership development opportunities
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Family friendly and flexible working scheme
• Wellbeing initiatives, including cycle to work and discounted KAL membership
• Supportive colleagues and a positive, values led culture

What Our Leaders Say

“This role offers a real opportunity to shape and strengthen practice across Adult Social Care – driving improvement, supporting our workforce and ensuring consistently high-quality, person-centred support for our residents. You will be trusted, supported and empowered to lead with confidence.”

This job is subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level, please refer to the Job Description/Profile. A conviction may not exclude candidates from appointment but will be considered as part of the recruitment process.

We know there’s a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and we encourage applications from people with all differing abilities.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We encourage you to read our AI Guidance before submitting your application to ensure your supporting statements reflect your own authentic experience.

Closing date

21 September 2026, 11:55 PM

Company: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Salary: £56,293 – £58,358

Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

Sector: Health and Social Care

Sector: Adult Services

Job Role: Social Worker