Staffordshire County Council

Service Lead - Adult Social Care

The closing date is 19 April 2026

Job summary

Were offering an exciting opportunity to take on a senior leadership role shaping two vital Adult Social Care (ASC) services: the ASC Transitions Team and the Neurodivergent Team. This role is perfect for a motivated leader who wants to influence practice, drive improvement, and make a real difference to the lives of young people and adults across Staffordshire.

Main duties of the job

As a senior leader, you will provide professional oversight, drive high-quality practice, and strengthen relationships with local partners. Working alongside two Team Managers and the Strategic Service and Delivery Lead, you will play a key role in service development, continuous improvement, and achieving the best possible outcomes for Staffordshire residents.

About us

We are no ordinary county council: Our Values: The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£55,609 to £60,047 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

VP058C4C0C

Job locations

Stafford

ST16 2LP


Job description

Job responsibilities

Were offering an exciting opportunity to take on a senior leadership role shaping two vital Adult Social Care (ASC) services: the ASCTransitions Team and the Neurodivergent Team. This role is perfect for a motivated leader who wants to influence practice, drive improvement, and make a real difference to the lives of young people and adults across Staffordshire.

About Our Teams

Transitions Team:Supporting young people from age 14 as they move from childrens to adult services, the Transitions Team ensures those eligible under the Care Act (2014) receive effective support at the right time where adult social care can add value to their lives. The team works closely with Childrens Social Care, SEND services and health partners to secure the best outcomes for young people entering adulthood.

Neurodivergent TeamThis newly developed team provides specialist support for people living with neurodivergence, helping them build independence and thrive in a neurotypical world. The team includes a Consultant Social Worker, Social Workers, Social Care Assessors and Intensive Support Workers.

As a senior leader, you will provide professional oversight, drive high-quality practice, and strengthen relationships with local partners. Working alongside two Team Managers and the Strategic Service and Delivery Lead, you will play a key role in service development, continuous improvement, and achieving the best possible outcomes for Staffordshire residents.

Main Responsibilities

On a day to day basis you will:

  • Provide day-to-day professional leadership to both teams, supporting Team Managers, Senior Social Workers and practitioners.
  • Monitor performance, ensuring KPIs are met and addressing any issues promptly.
  • Lead on quality assurance of assessments, support plans, Mental Capacity Assessments and other key documentsoffering constructive feedback to maintain high standards.
  • Identify skills gaps and support the development of practitioners and emerging leaders.
  • Contribute to service-wide projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Handle complaints and embed learning across the teams.
  • Work with commissioners and childrens services to shape strategic developments.
  • Oversee safeguarding enquiries, ensuring timely and appropriate outcomes.
  • Build effective partnerships by contributing to strategic groups.
  • Support sound financial management of community care and staffing budgets.
The Ideal Candidate

You will

  • Hold a professional Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
  • You will have substantial experience since qualifying as a Social Worker in a leadership/management role as well as a practitioner
  • You will have an understanding of the relevant legislation that frames statutory Social Work practice.

This is a fixed term role to cover maternity leave to start on 1st May 2026 until 31st May 2027. The post is full time post for 37 hours per week. The core business hours are from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Hybrid working is available offering a mix of office and home based working. As these services support people living across Staffordshire and the teams work from local bases across the county with their main bases being in Stafford and Burton-on-Trent. Your office base is negotiable, however, you will be required to be present in one of the two main bases during the working week

Shortlisting for this post will take place the week starting 20th April an interviews will be held week starting 27th April

If you think that you dont all the requirements please consider applying anyway? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications.

For an informal chat about the role please contact Christine Wheeler, Strategic Service and Delivery Lead at christine.wheeler@staffordshire.gov.uk

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what youll bring to the role.

About Staffordshire County Council

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access toOur rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a GoldAward Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as yourapplication meets the minimum criteria for the post.

As youll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and thats why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Were offering an exciting opportunity to take on a senior leadership role shaping two vital Adult Social Care (ASC) services: the ASCTransitions Team and the Neurodivergent Team. This role is perfect for a motivated leader who wants to influence practice, drive improvement, and make a real difference to the lives of young people and adults across Staffordshire.

About Our Teams

Transitions Team:Supporting young people from age 14 as they move from childrens to adult services, the Transitions Team ensures those eligible under the Care Act (2014) receive effective support at the right time where adult social care can add value to their lives. The team works closely with Childrens Social Care, SEND services and health partners to secure the best outcomes for young people entering adulthood.

Neurodivergent TeamThis newly developed team provides specialist support for people living with neurodivergence, helping them build independence and thrive in a neurotypical world. The team includes a Consultant Social Worker, Social Workers, Social Care Assessors and Intensive Support Workers.

As a senior leader, you will provide professional oversight, drive high-quality practice, and strengthen relationships with local partners. Working alongside two Team Managers and the Strategic Service and Delivery Lead, you will play a key role in service development, continuous improvement, and achieving the best possible outcomes for Staffordshire residents.

Main Responsibilities

On a day to day basis you will:

  • Provide day-to-day professional leadership to both teams, supporting Team Managers, Senior Social Workers and practitioners.
  • Monitor performance, ensuring KPIs are met and addressing any issues promptly.
  • Lead on quality assurance of assessments, support plans, Mental Capacity Assessments and other key documentsoffering constructive feedback to maintain high standards.
  • Identify skills gaps and support the development of practitioners and emerging leaders.
  • Contribute to service-wide projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Handle complaints and embed learning across the teams.
  • Work with commissioners and childrens services to shape strategic developments.
  • Oversee safeguarding enquiries, ensuring timely and appropriate outcomes.
  • Build effective partnerships by contributing to strategic groups.
  • Support sound financial management of community care and staffing budgets.
The Ideal Candidate

You will

  • Hold a professional Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
  • You will have substantial experience since qualifying as a Social Worker in a leadership/management role as well as a practitioner
  • You will have an understanding of the relevant legislation that frames statutory Social Work practice.

This is a fixed term role to cover maternity leave to start on 1st May 2026 until 31st May 2027. The post is full time post for 37 hours per week. The core business hours are from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Hybrid working is available offering a mix of office and home based working. As these services support people living across Staffordshire and the teams work from local bases across the county with their main bases being in Stafford and Burton-on-Trent. Your office base is negotiable, however, you will be required to be present in one of the two main bases during the working week

Shortlisting for this post will take place the week starting 20th April an interviews will be held week starting 27th April

If you think that you dont all the requirements please consider applying anyway? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications.

For an informal chat about the role please contact Christine Wheeler, Strategic Service and Delivery Lead at christine.wheeler@staffordshire.gov.uk

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what youll bring to the role.

About Staffordshire County Council

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access toOur rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a GoldAward Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as yourapplication meets the minimum criteria for the post.

As youll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and thats why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.

Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

  • Please refer to job description above

Desirable

  • Please refer to job description above
Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

  • Please refer to job description above

Desirable

  • Please refer to job description above

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

Staffordshire County Council

Address

Stafford

ST16 2LP


Employer's website

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Homepage.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Staffordshire County Council

Address

Stafford

ST16 2LP


Employer's website

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Homepage.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Recruiter

Liz Tomlinson

VP058C4C0C.1286@vacancyposter.com

03001118000

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£55,609 to £60,047 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

VP058C4C0C

Job locations

Stafford

ST16 2LP


Privacy notice

Staffordshire County Council's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)