Social Care Today
Deputy Director of Quality and Practice

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In Stoke-on-Trent we are reshaping Children and Family Services around a bold new delivery model to achieve our ambition of creating an integrated, restorative and family-centred system that intervenes earlier, strengthens families and enables children and young people to thrive.
In achieving our ambition we have created this new role, a key leadership position at the heart of leading change, working across services to influence delivery of practice and shape the best outcomes in Stoke-on-Trent. Reporting to the Corporate Director of Children and Family Services, you will provide strategic leadership and assurance for quality of practice, safeguarding and improvement.
You will help turn our Families First Partnership ambitions into excellent frontline practice, ensuring that change is not simply implemented, but experienced by those who need our support. You will shape our quality assurance framework, improvement planning and inspection readiness, bringing together quantitative performance insight with a deep understanding of practice and impact. You will oversee professional learning and workforce development through our Learning Academy and strengthen independent challenge. You will also help align practice across the new operating structure, sustaining momentum as our local government landscape evolves.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
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No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
As a qualified social worker, you will bring a strong grasp of children’s social care practice, quality assurance, performance and service improvement. You may bring experience as a Principal Social Worker, practice leader, improvement lead or senior operational leader. Whatever your route, you will combine authority, curiosity and the ability to influence across organisational boundaries. Visible, values-led and collaborative, you will create the conditions in which practitioners can excel, partners can contribute and learning leads to improved delivery.


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Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
If you are keen to explore how you could make a difference, we encourage you to speak to our partners at GatenbySanderson, Philip Emms (07590 225472) or Becky Downs (07831 116336) Or visit our microsite: teamstoke.com
Closing Date: Friday 2 October
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