At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate in adult social care, focusing on Mental Health services.
- Company: Lancashire County Council, dedicated to supportive and collaborative service delivery.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and system-wide transformation in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Shape high-quality services and drive positive outcomes for individuals in your community.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in adult social care and relevant professional qualifications required.
The predicted salary is between 66336 - 72150 £ per year.
Salary £66,336 - £72,150 per annum | Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week | Adult Services
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join Adult Services as a Senior Service Manager. Reporting into the Head of Service this is a pivotal leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering high-quality, person-centred adult social care services across Lancashire. The current remit of the post aligns to Mental Health services, where you will support the delivery of responsive, integrated and outcomes-focused provision.
You will play a critical role in driving operational excellence, service improvement and innovation ensuring services are aligned to the vision of Living Better Lives in Lancashire and deliver positive outcomes for people. This is a generic senior leadership role within Adult Social Care and portfolio responsibilities may change over time to meet organisational priorities and business needs including opportunities to lead across a range of service areas.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the operational delivery of Adult Social Care services, currently within Mental Health, ensuring high-quality and compliant provision
- Drive service improvement and transformation, responding to changing needs and priorities
- Provide strategic leadership and advice to senior stakeholders across Adult Services and partner organisations
- Champion integrated and partnership working across health, voluntary and community sectors
- Ensure robust systems for assessment, review, safeguarding and performance management
- Lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams to deliver consistent, high quality practice
- Use data and insight to support evidence-based decision making and service improvement
- Represent the service at key boards, partnerships, and strategic forums
About You
You will be an experienced senior leader with a strong track record in adult social care and/or health services, with the ability to lead at scale across complex systems. You will bring:
- Significant experience of leading large, diverse operational services
- A proven track record of delivering high-quality services and transformation programmes
- Strong understanding of adult social care legislation, policy, and best practice
- Experience of working in partnership with health, voluntary, and community sectors
- The ability to adapt and lead across different service areas in response to business need
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
- A relevant professional qualification (e.g. Social Work / Occupational Therapy) and registration with the appropriate professional body is essential.
Our Offer
At Lancashire County Council, we are committed to delivering services that are:
- Supportive – recognising and building on strengths
- Innovative – continuously improving how we deliver services
- Respectful – placing people at the heart of what we do
- Collaborative – working with partners to achieve the best outcomes
This role offers the opportunity to:
- Provide leadership within the Mental Health service, while developing experience across wider Adult Services
- Contribute to system-wide transformation and integration
- Lead innovation aligned to strengths-based practice and service improvement
For more information please contact Head of Service Amanda Murphy - Amanda.Murphy2@lancashire.gov.uk
Senior Service Manager employer: Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation and sustainability are at the forefront of architectural design. With a strong commitment to employee development, competitive benefits including a generous pension scheme and ample annual leave, and a collaborative culture that values diverse perspectives, this role as Principal Architect provides a unique opportunity to shape the future of building design in Lancashire while advancing your career in a supportive setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Service Manager
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Lancashire County Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Lancashire County Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Lancashire County Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Lancashire County Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Service Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Lancashire County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Lancashire County Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lancashire County Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
