Trust Professional Head of Social Work | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Overview

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and experienced Advanced Social Worker to join South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust as our Professional Head of Social Work. You will be a key member of the social work leadership team, embedded within an extensive multi‑professional leadership structure. Your role will focus on strengthening the visibility, voice and impact of social work across the Trust, shaping a culture where social work thrives and supporting our ambitious social work agenda.

Leadership, Management and Governance

• Report to the Trust’s Director of Social Care and be a core member of the senior clinical and professional leadership team.
• Develop and deliver the organisation’s professional social work strategy, promoting evidence‑based practice and embedding a learning culture.
• Ensure staff management is consistent with Trust Human Resources Policies, achieving equality, equity and optimum performance.
• Supervise senior social workers and other staff, input into performance and productivity improvements, and participate in annual appraisals.
• Operate with high‑level autonomy, managing multidisciplinary stakeholders both internally and externally within health and social care.
• Liaise with multi‑disciplinary teams, senior leaders, external agencies and partnerships to influence practice and ensure standards.
• Ensure appropriate professional and managerial structures enable social workers to register, supervise, reflect and develop.
• Establish and lead a Trust Social Work Advisory Committee, implementing governance standards, policies and objectives.
• Ensure Trust systems and processes enable effective engagement of social work staff.
• Lead and develop the Trust social work training and education strategy, including placements, apprenticeships and professional pathways.
• Oversee governance and oversight of registration and re‑registration of Trust social workers.
• Engage and manage relationships with external partners (NHSE, DHSC, HEIs, Social Work England, etc.) to promote social work training and education.
• Plan and implement professional policies and procedures, ensuring social work interventions and strategies are reflected in Trust policies.
• Provide professional supervision to social workers and trainees as appropriate.
• Represent social work within the Clinical Effectiveness Group, Clinical Council and Quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure the implementation of national standards for social work practice and governance systems that support patient experience, service quality, safety and efficiency.
• Represent the organisation at regional and national social work forums, influencing development of policy and practice.
• Work in a community‑oriented way, supporting social inclusion for people with mental health problems.
• Support staff from ethnic minority groups and work with equality and diversity leads to address relevant issues.
• Promote the involvement of service users and carers in service development, enhancing the service user experience.
• Advise the Director of Social Care on fitness‑to‑practice issues and deputise as required.

Teaching, Training, Education and Supervision

• Maintain professional accountability structures for supervision and appraisal of social workers.
• Provide consultation to social workers and the wider MDT on issues relevant to practice and service developments.
• Ensure high‑quality placements for social work trainees.
• Maintain relationships with training providers and develop training placements.
• Develop the knowledge and skills base within services, keeping an active awareness of current developments.
• Contribute to a bio‑psychosocial framework of treatment, care and support.
• Receive regular clinical and professional supervision according to regulatory and professional standards.

Research, Audits and Development

• Lead the development and preparation of research proposals relevant to the service, attracting internal and external grants.
• Collaborate with management and external agencies to identify clinically focused research priorities.
• Initiate and oversee research and provide supervision to social work staff undertaking research.
• Support the initiation, undertaking and supervision of complex service evaluations and audits.
• Disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and publications.
• Utilise social work trainees and postgraduate students in service evaluation and research.
• Collate evidence for regulatory audits, quality assurance frameworks and reviews.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly within the Trust and partner agencies, driving continuous improvement.

Finance and Resources Management

• Manage delegated physical and financial resources for social work training, development, research and supervision.
• Act as an authorised signatory for delegated budgets, contributing to cost improvement plans.
• Oversee safe use of equipment and resources.
• Manage and ensure clinical competency of social work staff, taking remedial measures where required.
• Lead recruitment and selection of social work staff.
• Ensure oversight of physical assets and supplies, including IT equipment.
• Attend and present to leadership teams, the Trust Board and Executive as required.
• Prepare reports and presentations, including annual reports for the Trust Board and Social Work Advisory Group.

Workforce Planning and Development

• Establish workforce planning with senior leadership, identifying skill gaps, creating new posts and extending roles.
• Ensure recruitment and retention standards align with HR policy and statutory registration requirements.
• Promote safe staffing and improve recruitment and retention of social workers.
• Ensure social workers in the Directorate meet required practice standards.

Clinical Practice

• Maintain your own professional Social Work practice in a format agreed with the Director of Social Care.
• Champion the rights of citizens within a legal and human rights framework.
• Share best‑practice learnings across the service and partner agencies.
• Collaborate with the central safeguarding team to disseminate learning from safeguarding practice reviews.
• Advise the Director of Social Care on escalation of cases, ensuring statutory and regulatory responsibilities are met.
• Ensure high standards of clinical record keeping, electronic data entry, report writing and professional self‑governance.

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