JOB-20240819-db742659

Practice Manager - Next Steps Team

Job Title: Practice Manager - Next Steps Team
Specialism: Social Worker - Children's Services / Care Leavers
Salary: £43.00 per hour
Contract Type: Ongoing, Part-Time / Full-Time

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced social work leader to join the Next Steps Team as a Practice Manager. In this role, you will provide strong practice leadership and operational management to support young people aged 16-25 as they transition from care into adulthood. Offering flexible working arrangements and a competitive hourly rate, this position allows you to make a lasting impact on the lives of care leavers while shaping high-quality service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

As Practice Manager within the Next Steps Team, you will be responsible for:

• Providing practice leadership and operational management within the Next Steps Team, supporting young people aged 16-25.

• Leading, supervising, and developing a team of social workers and personal advisers, fostering a supportive and high-performing culture.

• Ensuring statutory duties are met in line with relevant legislation, including the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the Children and Social Work Act 2017.

• Overseeing the quality and delivery of Pathway Plans, ensuring they are personalised, aspirational, and outcome-focused.

• Embedding strengths-based, trauma-informed, and relationship-based practice across the service.

• Managing safeguarding responsibilities for vulnerable young people, including those at risk of exploitation, homelessness, or mental ill-health.

• Monitoring performance and addressing practice issues effectively to maintain high service standards.

• Providing reflective supervision, coaching, and professional development opportunities for staff.

• Managing complex cases, including risk assessment and decision-making around legal thresholds.

• Working collaboratively with internal and external partners, including housing, health, education, and voluntary sector services.

• Driving service development, improvement activity, and inspection readiness.

• Ensuring high standards of recording, data quality, and information governance are maintained.

Person Specification

We are seeking candidates with:

• A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.

• Significant post-qualifying experience within children's social care, including work with care leavers.

• Proven experience in a leadership or management role within statutory services.

• Stro