Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Social Work Practice Lead

The closing date is 16 November 2025

Job summary

The post holder will provide professional leadership, practice development, and assurance for social work practice across designated service areas. They will ensure that professional standards are upheld, that governance frameworks are embedded, and that social workers are supported to deliver safe, effective, and person-centred care.

Main duties of the job

  • Acting to support the professional lead for social work within the Trust, providing expert advice and guidance.
  • Supporting and where appropriate leading on the implementation of Trust-wide policies, professional standards, and governance frameworks.
  • Supporting quality improvement, audit, and assurance activities within social work.
  • Providing professional supervision and oversight to social work leads and practitioners.
  • Contributing to service planning and workforce development in collaboration with operational managers.
  • Representing the profession within Trust-level forums and local multi-agency partnerships.

About us

Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of 'making a positive difference in people's lives'.

CQC rated us as 'GOOD' overall, commenting on how our colleagues "treated patients with compassion and kindness" and "felt positive and proud about working for the trust."

Benefits include:

  • Commitment to flexible working where this is possible

  • 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years' service

  • Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training

  • Generous NHS pension scheme

  • Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits

  • Health service discounts and online benefits

  • Incremental pay progression

  • Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7

  • Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network

  • Health and wellbeing opportunities

  • Structured learning and development opportunities

Details

Date posted

05 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

383-CHI-6205-25

Job locations

Kingsway

Derbyshire Heatlhcare Kingsway House

Derby

DE22 3LZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please view the Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click ON APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site, you will need to register if you do not already have an account.

Leadership and Management

1) Make professional judgements on behalf of profession and make recommendations to the professional lead, to ensure a robust clinical governance framework is maintained.

2) The Social WorkLead will be the expert for their profession insituations that have unique characteristics to their specificdiscipline.

3) The post holder will be required to contribute to and influence discussions on matters of a professional nature, giving appropriate advice and guidance to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved for the service and the profession.

4) The post holder to contribute to and influence Strategic and business planning of various Social Work functions in the trust.

5) The post holder reports to the Deputy Director of Transformation and AHP Lead and will agree personal and profession specific objectives through the formal performance review system. This requires considerable flexibility in determining the means of meeting these targets.

6) Work in collaboration with the other leads across Derbyshire Health Care healthcare foundation trust (DHCFT), AHP leads and multi-agency stakeholders as relevant to the specific profession to agree service organisation, service delivery models and clinical priorities.

7) Accountability for effective advice and oversight of the Social Workoperational leadership team, who maintain systems are in place and monitored to support staff and clinical governance, patient safety, health and safety, risk management.

8) Advise on Social Work service improvements across patient journeys and facilitate the improvement to patient pathways across joined up care partnerships Derbyshire

9) Connect and collaborate with wider Derbyshire health care systems as appropriate

10) Provides advice on the development of the workforce model and work force planning of Social Work service within area of responsibility in collaboration with the Leads for that speciality

11) Provide collective support and collective leadership to other professionals with in the AHP in the trust when needed as requested by AHP deputy director as and when required

Clinical Governance/Quality Assurance

1) Support the operationalleads to make recommendations on professional priorities in the development of local plans; support AHP Sector Leads in contributing to DHCFT service plans; contribute to, develop and implement policies and protocols and service changes within the sector influence, negotiate and involve multi-agency stakeholders as appropriate.

2) The post holder will advise the operational leads on the implementation of policies and protocols which are relevant to the development of the Social Work practice in collaboration with service leads

3) Assure that Professional policy and service development changes are safe and appropriate within the Social Work area(s) e.g. new clinical guidelines, standards

4) With other lead colleagues within the profession, as a network, collaborate to identify priority areas and to take the lead on projects which have implications across the organisation.

5) Work within professional body guidelines to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice in sector area(s)

6) To promote and provide evidence of assurance of a learning environment and culture which can evidence implementation of national and local recommendations

7) To promote and engage in a positive, open and transparent culture, to support and enable the delivery of the Trust Strategic Objectives.

8) To ensure a patient and staff safety culture which assures adherence to Trust values.

9) To influence the learning and promote an open culture to support the reporting of safety incidents.

10) Apply the evidence of advanced clinical practice within Social Workdemonstrating the use application and evaluation of evidence based care interventions.

Supervision for Social Workers

1) To provide professional support, guidance and lead when appropriate in formal disciplinary matters and disputes

2) Provide consultation and professional advice on Training Needs Analysis

3) Act as an advocate for the Social Work services within the trust to promote Quality assurance standards of Social Work service delivery

4) Support specific Social Work team lead in any grievance related issues.

5) Actively promote equality, diversity and an inclusive and supportive environment.

6) Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and their application to evidence-based practice, clinical audit and research and development.

7) To advise on standards of care utilising relevant benchmarking information from relevant performance and quality standards for the named Social Work service.

8) Whilst the post holder will be guided by the Professional Lead and principles and broad occupational policies, they will be expected to interpret and act on these for the profession on an autonomous basis, using judgement and experience of when it is appropriate to seek advice.

9) Influence policy beyond own immediate scope of Social Work to improve quality of broader pathway sand services.

10) Work within wide range of codes of practice and professional Guidelines/interpret national professional policies specialist area.

11) Accountable to Lead Professional for Social Work and Chief AHP.

12) Coordinating sources of funding and accessing available funding both external and internal to DHCFT.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please view the Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click ON APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site, you will need to register if you do not already have an account.

Leadership and Management

1) Make professional judgements on behalf of profession and make recommendations to the professional lead, to ensure a robust clinical governance framework is maintained.

2) The Social WorkLead will be the expert for their profession insituations that have unique characteristics to their specificdiscipline.

3) The post holder will be required to contribute to and influence discussions on matters of a professional nature, giving appropriate advice and guidance to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved for the service and the profession.

4) The post holder to contribute to and influence Strategic and business planning of various Social Work functions in the trust.

5) The post holder reports to the Deputy Director of Transformation and AHP Lead and will agree personal and profession specific objectives through the formal performance review system. This requires considerable flexibility in determining the means of meeting these targets.

6) Work in collaboration with the other leads across Derbyshire Health Care healthcare foundation trust (DHCFT), AHP leads and multi-agency stakeholders as relevant to the specific profession to agree service organisation, service delivery models and clinical priorities.

7) Accountability for effective advice and oversight of the Social Workoperational leadership team, who maintain systems are in place and monitored to support staff and clinical governance, patient safety, health and safety, risk management.

8) Advise on Social Work service improvements across patient journeys and facilitate the improvement to patient pathways across joined up care partnerships Derbyshire

9) Connect and collaborate with wider Derbyshire health care systems as appropriate

10) Provides advice on the development of the workforce model and work force planning of Social Work service within area of responsibility in collaboration with the Leads for that speciality

11) Provide collective support and collective leadership to other professionals with in the AHP in the trust when needed as requested by AHP deputy director as and when required

Clinical Governance/Quality Assurance

1) Support the operationalleads to make recommendations on professional priorities in the development of local plans; support AHP Sector Leads in contributing to DHCFT service plans; contribute to, develop and implement policies and protocols and service changes within the sector influence, negotiate and involve multi-agency stakeholders as appropriate.

2) The post holder will advise the operational leads on the implementation of policies and protocols which are relevant to the development of the Social Work practice in collaboration with service leads

3) Assure that Professional policy and service development changes are safe and appropriate within the Social Work area(s) e.g. new clinical guidelines, standards

4) With other lead colleagues within the profession, as a network, collaborate to identify priority areas and to take the lead on projects which have implications across the organisation.

5) Work within professional body guidelines to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice in sector area(s)

6) To promote and provide evidence of assurance of a learning environment and culture which can evidence implementation of national and local recommendations

7) To promote and engage in a positive, open and transparent culture, to support and enable the delivery of the Trust Strategic Objectives.

8) To ensure a patient and staff safety culture which assures adherence to Trust values.

9) To influence the learning and promote an open culture to support the reporting of safety incidents.

10) Apply the evidence of advanced clinical practice within Social Workdemonstrating the use application and evaluation of evidence based care interventions.

Supervision for Social Workers

1) To provide professional support, guidance and lead when appropriate in formal disciplinary matters and disputes

2) Provide consultation and professional advice on Training Needs Analysis

3) Act as an advocate for the Social Work services within the trust to promote Quality assurance standards of Social Work service delivery

4) Support specific Social Work team lead in any grievance related issues.

5) Actively promote equality, diversity and an inclusive and supportive environment.

6) Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and their application to evidence-based practice, clinical audit and research and development.

7) To advise on standards of care utilising relevant benchmarking information from relevant performance and quality standards for the named Social Work service.

8) Whilst the post holder will be guided by the Professional Lead and principles and broad occupational policies, they will be expected to interpret and act on these for the profession on an autonomous basis, using judgement and experience of when it is appropriate to seek advice.

9) Influence policy beyond own immediate scope of Social Work to improve quality of broader pathway sand services.

10) Work within wide range of codes of practice and professional Guidelines/interpret national professional policies specialist area.

11) Accountable to Lead Professional for Social Work and Chief AHP.

12) Coordinating sources of funding and accessing available funding both external and internal to DHCFT.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current Social Work England Registration

Desirable

  • Leadership training or equivalent experience desirable

Ability

Essential

  • Person shows the ability to act under supervision in a leadership capacity.
  • Person shows understanding of the professional frameworks that support good social work practice

Desirable

  • Experince of leadership
  • Experinece of professional regulation
  • Demonstrates a strong committment to social work values.
  • Project management skills

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to provide professional leadership and assurance
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Act as a visible leader and role model for the profession
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current Social Work England Registration

Desirable

  • Leadership training or equivalent experience desirable

Ability

Essential

  • Person shows the ability to act under supervision in a leadership capacity.
  • Person shows understanding of the professional frameworks that support good social work practice

Desirable

  • Experince of leadership
  • Experinece of professional regulation
  • Demonstrates a strong committment to social work values.
  • Project management skills

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to provide professional leadership and assurance
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Act as a visible leader and role model for the profession

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).

Additional information

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

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kingsway

Derbyshire Heatlhcare Kingsway House

Derby

DE22 3LZ


Employer's website

http://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kingsway

Derbyshire Heatlhcare Kingsway House

Derby

DE22 3LZ


Employer's website

http://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Professional Lead for Social Work

Paul Blakeman

p.blakeman1@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

05 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

383-CHI-6205-25

Job locations

Kingsway

Derbyshire Heatlhcare Kingsway House

Derby

DE22 3LZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)