Team Manager Principal Social Work Team in Bury St Edmunds

Are you ready to lead, inspire, and shape the future of social work? We are looking for an exceptional Principal Social Work Team Manager to provide strategic leadership, professional direction, and inspiration across our social work services. This is a high-impact role where you will champion best practice, drive innovation, and ensure the highest standards of practice and outcomes for people who draw on our services.

You will play a pivotal role in developing our workforce, strengthening practice quality, and embedding a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement. Working at both strategic and operational levels, you will influence policy, support and challenge teams, and act as a visible professional leader for social workers across the organisation. This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference, shape service delivery, and leave a lasting legacy for social work practice. If you are passionate about excellent practice, confident in leading change, and motivated by improving lives and communities, we would love to hear from you.

The role provides leadership and oversight to the Principal Social Work team, focusing on both Practice Assurance and Workforce Development. It is dedicated to delivering high-quality, evidence-based social work practice that aligns with Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations, Social Work England standards, and local authority requirements. Key objectives include supporting professional development, championing quality assurance, fostering innovation, and integrating digital tools to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of adult social care.

The role leads and manages the Principal Social Work team, overseeing both Practice Assurance and Workforce Development functions. Responsibilities include setting strategic direction, creating and monitoring quality assurance frameworks, and ensuring compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and professional standards. The postholder drives the development of workforce initiatives such as student placements, apprenticeships, and the ASYE program while embedding structured coaching, mentoring, and support for staff. The role also involves managing budgets, developing policies and training programmes, and representing the service at regional and national forums. A key aspect is championing equality, diversity, and inclusion, and maintaining oversight of risk, lone working, and resources.

Strong leadership and management skills are vital, including the ability to guide teams, oversee budgets, and implement strategic plans. The postholder must demonstrate expertise in quality assurance, evidence-based practice, and the development and evaluation of practice improvement initiatives. Excellent communication, relationship-building, and influential leadership skills are essential, as is the ability to support and develop others through mentoring, coaching, and supervision. A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and a proactive approach to risk management and service innovation, are also key attributes for success in this role.

The service provides leadership and oversight to the Principal Social Work team, focusing on both Practice Assurance and Workforce Development. Its core aim is to ensure high-quality, evidence-based social work practice that complies with Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations, Social Work England standards, and local authority requirements, managing a small team, reporting to the Principal Social Worker.

Normal hours of work are 37 hours per week based around the usual business working week. Dependent on service requirements, you may be required to work on a rota basis.

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment may be subject to a satisfactory disclosure at the appropriate level under the Disclosure and Barring Service. In line with safer recruitment, please ensure that your application/CV covers your full employment history and there is a reason noted for any gaps in employment. Successful candidates will be asked to provide relevant references for the past ten years and character references will not be accepted.

Please note we are unable to support with sponsorship at this time. As a Corporate Parent, ensure that the work and services you deliver considers our care experienced young people, promotes their life chances empowers them to influence the policies, services, and decisions that affect them, champions their rights, and ensure they grow up in the best possible way.

To hear about the benefits for working with Bury Council, please visit Bury - Home | greater.jobs. We support employees to work with agility, where appropriate for the post and service requirements. We are committed to Bury being an equal society that recognises values and embraces all people, regardless of any difference, for the skills, abilities and experiences they bring into the workforce and the wider community. Therefore we guarantee an interview for disabled people, looked after children/ care leavers, armed forces personnel (including reservists and veterans) and carers of adults or disabled children if they meet the essential criteria.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

For an informal chat regarding the role please contact Emma Massey on e.massey@bury.gov.uk. Interviews will be held on 27th February 2026.