Practice development manager

Summary: Manage the development of social work teams to promote and support evidence-based best practice
Other names: Practice development consultant, practice development officer, practice development leader, practice and learning manager

What you'll do

As a practice development manager you’ll:

identify knowledge gaps and assess the development needs of social work teams
develop, lead and manage practice development projects
collect and evaluate data to assess the effectiveness of practice models
analyse data to track the performance of new policies to ensure better outcomes for children and families
report on the progress and outcome of development projects to senior managers
manage budgets for development projects and track expenses
support social workers to ensure children and families are receiving high-quality service
work with policymakers to develop public awareness campaigns and provide training for other professionals

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

decision-making and problem-solving skills to understand complex development needs
leadership and management skills to lead practice development projects
organisational skills to plan, organise and manage complex projects from start to finish
analytical skills to interpret data and trends and make evidence-based recommendations
communication and interpersonal skills to influence external partners and policymakers
knowledge of relevant legislation and policies to inform new practice models
the ability to adapt to changes in the funding and policy landscape and translate those into practice

How to become one

To become a practice development manager you must:

have completed a degree, apprenticeship or graduate training scheme in social work
be registered with Social Work England
ideally have at least 5 years' experience as a qualified child and family social worker
demonstrate experience of practice development work

Some employers may prefer candidates who have a post-graduate qualification in a relevant area, such as social work research, leadership or management.

If you’re an experienced practitioner, the Pathway 2: middle managers programme can help prepare you to progress to a practice development manager role.

Career paths and progression

With experience you could:

progress into an advanced leadership role such as service manager or head of service
move into a training and consultancy role and deliver training programmes to social workers
specialise in quality assurance and compliance, ensuring standards and regulatory requirements are met

The Pathway 3: heads of service programme can help prepare you to progress to a service manager or head of service role.

Current opportunities