St Helens Council
Head of Social Work - Working Age
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Lead, Inspire and Transform
We are seeking an exceptional and visionary Head of Social Work – Working Age to provide strategic and professional leadership across our adult social work services for working age adults.
This is a pivotal role, providing professional leadership and strategic direction for social work services supporting adults of working age, including people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, acquired brain injury, mental health and complex needs. The role also has strategic responsibility for our Transition service, ensuring young people with care and support needs experience seamless, person-centred transitions from Children’s to adult social care.
The role also has responsibility for the Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) Service, ensuring the Council fulfils its statutory duties under the Mental Health Act.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape high quality person-centred services that enable people to live independent, fulfilling lives while ensuring the highest standards of professional practice. As a key member of the leadership team, you will play a central role in shaping a more joined-up people's department working collaboratively across Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Public Health to deliver seamless, person-centred support. You will champion integration, breaking down organisational barriers and fostering a culture of collaboration, shared accountability and innovation.
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By strengthening partnerships and promoting whole system working, you will help ensure that people experience coordinated services throughout their lives, from preparing for adulthood through to later life, improving outcomes for residents while making the best use of collective resources.
Key Requirements
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- Experienced manager with at least 3 years at Team Manager level, providing evidence of a strong track record of leadership, leading complex adult social work services.
- Excellent strategic thinking, and a passion for improving outcomes for working age adults.
- Recognised social work qualification, be AMHP qualified or willing to undertake the qualification within the first 12 months of appointment.
- Demonstrate significant senior leadership, extensive knowledge of adult social work, safeguarding and strength-based practice.
- Experience of leading organisational change and service transformation.
- Excellent communication skills and a strong understanding of financial and performance management experience.
For an informal discussion, please contact Christopher Hardman, Assistant Director Adult Social Work:
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