About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and values-driven leader to take on the role of Head of Social Work/Social Care, a pivotal position spanning Devon Partnership NHS Trust (DPT) and Devon County Council (DCC) within a well-established Section 75 partnership. This is a unique opportunity to provide strategic leadership across an integrated health and social care system, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and legally compliant services for people with complex needs. The role leads on the professional governance of social work and social care, including acting as Head of Profession for registered social workers within DPT, and provides Devon-wide oversight of the Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) service, ensuring statutory Mental Health Act duties are delivered consistently and effectively. This post plays a critical role in shaping high-quality, person-centred practice, strengthening workforce capability and maintaining strong partnership working across organisational boundaries.
Main duties of the job
The Head of Social Work/Social Care provides strategic and operational leadership across integrated mental health services, ensuring robust governance, quality assurance and statutory compliance under the Care Act and Mental Health Act. The role oversees assigned and delegated social care functions delivered through the Section 75 partnership agreement, providing assurance across both DCC and DPT through established governance routes, including report writing and regular reporting to Boards and committees. As Head of Profession, the postholder leads on professional standards, registration, supervision, and development for all registered social workers within DPT. The role also provides Devon-wide leadership and oversight of the AMHP service, ensuring sufficient capacity, resilience and high-quality statutory decision-making.
In addition, the postholder leads on key areas of practice and process, including safeguarding, hospital discharge, Section 117 aftercare and transitions to adult services, driving consistency and continuous improvement across the system. The role is responsible for progressing the strategic vision and priorities set both nationally and locally, leading change through improvement programmes and delivering the annual objectives of the Section 75 partnership agreement and its associated development plan.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description Job responsibilities
Responsible To:
Executive Chief Nursing Officer & Allied Professions Deputy Chief Operating Officer with direct report to DCC DASS
Job Purpose
This role is to support the delivry of excellent social care in Devon Partnership Trust.
This post:
Head of Profession for Social Work throughout DPT Leads on the delivery of the Section 75 for Devon County Council Supports the development of improved performance and service delivery of mental health social work and care both across Devon Partnership Trust, Devon County Council and Torbay Council Ensures close liaison with service user and carer networks in respect of service delivery and development and will help to promote recovery and social inclusion Provides social work and social care leadership, ensuring effective consultation, engagement and dialogue on social care policy and professional social work and social care issues. Promotes quality improvement of mental health social work and care within Devon Partnership Trust and the local authorities Lead on a range of programmes addressing performance and service issues Effectively manages the delivery of social care within the assigned budgets Manages allocated social care/social inclusion projects and undertake other corporate projects as agreed within individual objectives and will deputise for the responsible Director as required. Key Objectives
The outline objectives for this post are:
Promote a social care management and professional leadership structure that aligns to contemporary legislation and approaches to social care service Liaise with the directorates to lead, influence and support best delivery of social work and care Assuring Care Act eligibility criteria are being applied consistently Assuring Social Care reviews are being undertaken consistently to the correct criteria Assuring carers assessments and support are undertaken Meeting Local Authority financial and performance targets and identifying gaps and constructing plans to remediate To highlight any training needs to support assigned staff to work effectively as a mental health social care function To hold day to day operational responsibility for the delivery of the savings plan.
The role
Social Work and Social Care Leadership the post holder will seek to enhance and develop leadership skills within the social work profession across the Trust, ensuring an effective contribution to the overall leadership of the Trust.
Social Work and Social Care Performance the post holder will help develop and oversee the performance requirements under the Sec 75 agreement and lead on the interface with Devon County Council on policy and practice matters, working closely with professional staff and social work consultants and other clinical leads within the Trust to enrich practice, policy, advisory and decision-making processes.
Project Management the post holder will manage social care/social inclusion initiatives for the Trust and line manage programme leads and specified staff associated with them, as required.
Social Work and Social Care Workforce Advice the post holder will advise Trust managers on professional/management issues relating to social care staff such as recruitment/retention, performance management and applicable TUPE policy and will lead/advise as appropriate on social care focused recruitment initiatives and ensure appropriate professional input to selection processes.
Education, Training and Professional Development The Trust is committed to continuing education, training and development for all disciplines. The post holder will lead for social work and social care staff on ensuring the full implementation and review of professional supervision and performance management and the incorporation within Trust and local authority training and development plans of the continuing professional development needs of social work and social care staff ensuring their Social Work England continuing professional development requirements can be met.
Social Work England Registration and Standards the post holder will ensure effective guidance, information and support to the Trust in respect of meeting the requirements of Social Work England Council in respect of social work and will assist the Trust in ensuring that eligible staff are registered with Social Work England when required and that such registrations are then maintained. The post holder will also be expected to ensure that information and guidance from relevant national and regional social care bodies inform the development of practice within the Trust.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Substantial Head of Practice/Management Experience in the delivery of Mental Health and /or related health and care services demonstrating effective track record of managing complex services and large budgets. Substantial experience of senior public sector management (NHS and/or Local Government) demonstrating effective track record of managing complex services and large budgets. Demonstrable Experience of identifying and delivering professional development and improving standards of professional care.
Knowledge Essential
Detailed working knowledge of the NHS and Local Government policies relating to Mental Health together with the good knowledge of principal policy and financial determinants. Detailed Knowledge of National strategy relating to the profession, including pre and post registration, revalidation and CPD requirements for the professional group. Excellent leadership skills Demonstrable understanding of the Recovery approach. Able to demonstrate knowledge of legislative and policy framework across social work, social care and relevant aspects of the criminal justice system Good knowledge of computer office applications, word, excel, power point
Desirable
Good working knowledge of other Healthcare and public service Sectors especially those relating to learning disability and childrens services
Qualifications Essential
Educated to Masters degree or equivalent experience/competence - CQSW/CSS/DipSW/PQSW award Management/Professional qualification - CQSW/CSS/DipSW/PQSW award Evidence of Continued Professional Development. Evidence of current up to date professional registration
Skills and Abilities Essential
Excellent communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and confidently to range of staff and audiences. Able to present highly complex information logically and concisely both verbally and in writing. Able to form positive relationships with staff at all levels, with Partner Organisations and people who use our services etc Analytical and Judgement Skills Able to devise and deliver complex service delivery systems. Good numeracy as well as organisational and literacy skills. Able to understand and evaluate very complex problems quickly and in consultation with others. Able to reach balanced and mature judgements in the face of considerable adversity and complexity. Innovative and creative thinker. Excellent organisational and planning skills. Ability to lead teams and projects as well as work as a part of the same. Mobility throughout the area covered by the Trust and within the SHA region/nationally. Advanced leadership skills. Able to use variety of approaches appropriately to achieve change. Able to cope with complex demands with equanimity and decisiveness.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address Wonford House
Dryden Road
Exeter
Devon
EX2 5AF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)