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- Plan and coordinate health, welfare and social care support
- You'll need leadership and motivational skills & excellent communication skills
- You could specialise in a particular area, like mental health or children's services
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Developing strategies and policies
- Managing a team of senior staff, planning staff and resource requirements
- Managing finances and controlling budgets
- Monitoring and improving service provision
- Managing changes to services and how they're provided
- Analysing service data to identify areas for improvement and for reports
- Working closely with other agencies
- Supporting the professional development of your management team
- Negotiating contracts and buying in services from outside providers
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll be based in an office but travel between sites for meetings with social services teams and partner organisations. Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with good leadership and motivational skills, excellent communication skills, the ability to manage relationships with partner agencies, IT skills, analytical skills, and project management skills.
You'll need to pass enhanced background checks for this role and having a driving licence will be useful.
You'll need several years' management experience and a relevant qualification like the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership in Health and Social Care to apply for job vacancies directly.
Employers will expect you to have a clear understanding of legislation, safety standards and social policy for your chosen field.
You may be able to start on a higher apprenticeship for children, young people and families managers, or care leadership and management, then do further on the job training. You could also do a social worker degree apprenticeship to get a trainee manager's position.
Alternatively you could do a degree or postgraduate qualification before applying for a management trainee place with a local authority. Most subjects are accepted, though you may have an advantage with a qualification in social work, mental health nursing, public health policy or health and social care.
You'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could specialise in a particular area, like mental health or children's services. You could also become a head of service, chief executive, assistant director or director of social services.