At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and enhance adult social care practices while supporting and developing practitioners.
- Company: Join the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, a supportive and ambitious team.
- Benefits: Enjoy 32 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on social work quality and support your community.
- Qualifications: Must be an experienced social worker with a recognised qualification and registration.
The predicted salary is between 47831 - 52414 € per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Practice Lead to join us! Are you an experienced social worker with a passion for excellent practice, learning and professional leadership? This is a full-time, permanent role, with a salary of £47,831- £52,414 per annum plus an annual retention bonus of £3,000 subject to eligibility.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is seeking a Practice Lead to join our Adult Social Care service. This is a key professional leadership role, working closely with the Principal Social Worker, to strengthen practice quality, support our workforce and help shape the future of Adult Social Care in the borough.
This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic Practice Lead to join our Adult Social Care service. Why now? It’s a great time to join RBWM. We’ve started our transformation journey—Living Well Together—a vision shaped by staff that’s about helping residents live well and enabling our teams to work well together in a connected, compassionate, and forward-thinking environment. We’re investing in new roles, new technology, and enhanced learning and development to support our teams and improve outcomes.
Our latest staff survey shows:
- 92% of colleagues feel their work is meaningful
- 87% say their line manager demonstrates the council’s values
At RBWM, we are proud of our ambitious and supportive Adult Social Care service. We are committed to:
- High‑quality, strengths‑based practice
- A positive learning culture
- Workforce development and career progression
- Working together as One Team to improve outcomes for residents
Our values – Humility, Empower, Respect, One Team – underpin everything we do.
The role: As Practice Lead, you will play a vital role in promoting and embedding high‑quality, strengths‑based and person‑centred practice across Adult Social Care. You will provide expert professional advice on complex work, model best practice, and support practitioners through coaching, reflective development and direct practice involvement.
Your role will involve:
- Provide authoritative professional advice on complex casework, including safeguarding, mental capacity and risk enablement.
- Support and influence practice quality through reflective supervision, coaching and skills‑based development.
- Contribute to quality assurance activity, audits and service improvement.
- Support learning from safeguarding adult reviews, complaints and assurance activity.
- Play a central role in supporting ASYE and Social Work Apprenticeship programmes.
- Hold a small, flexible caseload to maintain practice credibility and support teams during periods of pressure.
- Work collaboratively with managers, partners and practitioners to strengthen outcomes for residents.
- Contribute to CQC assurance readiness and statutory compliance.
This is a practice‑focused role, using professional influence and expertise rather than line management, and offers the opportunity to make a tangible difference to the quality of social work practice across the service.
What we are looking for:
- An experienced, reflective and values‑driven social worker who is committed to continuous improvement and professional leadership.
- A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
- Significant post qualifying experience in statutory adult social care.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act and strengths based practice.
- Experience of supporting and developing practitioners, students or newly qualified social workers.
- The ability to influence and improve practice through coaching, reflection and collaboration.
- A clear commitment to co-production and working alongside residents and carers.
- Practice Educator and/or Best Interests Assessor qualifications are desirable but not essential.
What we offer:
- 32 days annual leave.
- Payment of Social Work England registration renewal fees.
- Free employee parking close to the offices.
- Flexible working including a hybrid working pattern for a better work-life balance.
- Generous Local Government Pension scheme includes life cover (3 times of annual salary); and an Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) scheme to enhance your pension provision.
- Give As You Earn scheme.
- Instant Reward Scheme to recognise and reward innovative achievement.
- Employee Assistance Programme providing counselling, advice and information.
- Access to discounts and deals with hundreds of retailers, including discounted gym memberships and travel deals.
RBWM values a collaborative and inclusive work environment, fostering creativity and innovation in all aspects of its operations. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all as we believe diverse talent makes us stronger. If you have a disability, are a current or former member of the armed forces or have been part of any formal care system up to the age of 25, you will be guaranteed an interview, should you meet the minimum requirements for the role.
Practice Lead - Adult Social Care in Thatcham employer: The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and ambitious environment for social workers passionate about making a difference in Adult Social Care. With a strong commitment to professional development, flexible working arrangements, and a collaborative culture, employees can thrive while contributing to meaningful outcomes for residents. Our values of Humility, Empower, Respect, and One Team guide our approach, ensuring that every team member feels valued and empowered to excel in their role.
Contact Detail:
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Practice Lead - Adult Social Care in Thatcham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social care field, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Understand their approach to adult social care and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise during interviews by sharing specific examples of your work. Talk about how you've influenced practice quality or supported colleagues in their development. This will demonstrate your leadership skills and commitment to high-quality practice.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at RBWM and contributing to our vision of Living Well Together.
We think you need these skills to ace Practice Lead - Adult Social Care in Thatcham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Practice Lead. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for social work and leadership shine through in your written application. We want to see your commitment to high-quality, strengths-based practice and how you can contribute to our vision.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to read and find the key information about your qualifications and experience.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly and gives you a chance to explore more about us and our values.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act, and strengths-based practice. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just experienced but also genuinely passionate about adult social care.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've influenced practice quality or supported other practitioners in the past. Highlighting your coaching and reflective development experiences will demonstrate your capability as a Practice Lead and your commitment to professional leadership.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with managers, partners, and practitioners, be ready to discuss how you've successfully collaborated in previous roles. Share specific instances where teamwork led to improved outcomes for residents, showcasing your ability to work as 'One Team'.
✨Align with Their Values
Familiarise yourself with RBWM's values: Humility, Empower, Respect, and One Team. During the interview, weave these values into your responses to demonstrate that you not only understand their culture but are also a perfect fit for their ambitious and supportive environment.
