Location
Harrow

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£62,349 per annum

About the Role
The London Borough of Harrow is seeking a Workforce Development Manager for a pivotal, strategic role within the Adult Social Care Division, reporting directly to the Principal Social Worker. This position is responsible for fostering a culture of clinical and professional excellence across the directorate, ensuring high-quality social work and professional practice aligned with the Council's vision.

The role acts as a professional and strategic figurehead, embedding core practice models such as strengths-based practice and anti-discriminatory principles throughout all training and quality assurance activities. A thorough understanding of relevant legislation and Adult Safeguarding practice is essential.

Key responsibilities include collaborating with the Quality Board and managers to implement the Quality Assurance Framework, providing advisory and reflective support to ensure compliant and effective practice. The role also involves collating learning from serious incidents and Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) to drive continuous service improvement and uphold the highest professional standards, ensuring citizens remain safe, their well-being is promoted, and their diverse needs are met by a skilled and ethically informed workforce.

The Workforce Development Manager will design, commission, and deliver comprehensive learning and development programs addressing statutory requirements and emerging best practices. This includes overseeing the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) program for newly qualified social workers, mentoring practice educators, and developing clear career pathways to foster staff retention and growth. Exceptional communication skills are required to influence stakeholders at all levels, championing continuous professional development and robust practice standards.

This is a critical opportunity to shape the future of Adult Social Care in Harrow by driving excellence and innovation in service delivery and practice development.

Experience
- Substantial experience in a strategic, leadership, or professional lead role within an Adult Social Care setting.
- Proven ability to design, commission, deliver, and evaluate comprehensive workforce development and learning programs.
- Experience implementing Quality Assurance Frameworks and working with Quality Boards.
- Demonstrated ability to collate and apply learning from Serious Incidents and Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) to drive service improvement.
- Experience with the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) program or Practice Educator roles, with the ability to lead and motivate staff/students within a culture of learning.

About you
- Ability to act as a professional and strategic figurehead and inspire staff.
- Exceptional knowledge of core practice models, particularly strengths-based practice and anti-discriminatory principles, with experience embedding them organizationally.
- Highly developed communication and influencing skills to advise and engage a variety of stakeholders.
- Commitment to continuous professional development relevant to social work practice, leadership, and learning/development.

Qualifications
- Professional Social Work Qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
- Expert, detailed understanding of Adult Safeguarding practice, legislation, and research.
- In-depth knowledge of key legislation including the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.