Please note this vacancy is ringfenced for DCHS and Derbyshire County Council/Derby City Adult Social Care Colleagues
As DCHS takes the next steps as a health and social care organisation, this is a key senior professional leadership role, newly created as part of the DCHS Operating Model redesign programme. This senior role signals the significant part Social Work and Social Care will play in DCHS’s future direction, and the value placed on ensuring this workforce is supported to thrive.
Aligned to care delivery, you will be visible leader, and a key part of a high-support high-challenge environment; driving improvement across Social Work and Social Care delivery around quality, safety, effectiveness, access and outcomes.
We are looking for a values-driven, collaborative senior leader with a Social Work background who thrives in complexity, is passionate about neighbourhood health and care, and is motivated to make a tangible difference for Derby and Derbyshire communities.
- Provide visible professional leadership for the Social Work and Social Care within DCHS, driving high-quality, strengths-based and legally compliant practice across services.
- Lead robust professional governance, including supervision, quality assurance and oversight of complex risk.
- Drive improvements in Social Work and Social Care quality, safety, access, experience and outcomes.
- Provide professional support to Social Work and Social Care teams and set up support infrastructures to support these staff groups appropriately.
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and system partners to shape responsive, neighbourhood-based care; with a focus on the role of Social Work and Social Care as part of this offer.
- Drive performance, governance and effective use of Social Work and Social care resources, while leading change in a complex environment.
- Influencing and problem-solving skills, with the ability to empower teams, manage risk and deliver sustainable improvement.
At Derbyshire Community Health Services (DCHS), we are committed to delivering safe and effective, person-centred care that supports people to remain independent and well in their communities. Our new operating model brings together care delivery units within neighbourhood and place-based teams to enable more integrated, responsive and joined-up services. We are working collaboratively with health, social care and voluntary sector partners to deliver prevention-focused, strengths-based care, working with partners to support make the shift from hospital to community, treatment to prevention, and analogue to digital a reality.
Provides senior professional leadership for Social Work and Social Care across DCHS, ensuring safe, effective and high quality practice is consistently delivered.
Acts as the organisational lead for statutory Social Work responsibilities, professional standards and regulatory compliance, working in line with relevant legislation, including the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding frameworks.
Leads the development and delivery of robust professional governance, including supervision, reflective practice, oversight of complex cases and quality assurance, ensuring risks are identified and managed and that learning from safeguarding activity, audits and reviews is embedded
Provides expert professional advice to senior operational and clinical leaders, influencing decision-making on safeguarding, capacity, risk management and ethical practice. Acts as a key link between frontline Social Work and Social Care teams and senior leadership, supporting improvement and ensuring the consistent application of policy, standards and best practice.
Represents Social Work across internal and external partnerships, including local authorities and multi-agency forums, strengthening integrated working and promoting a positive, strengths-based social work culture. Ensures effective professional development, workforce capability and maintenance of Social Work England registration requirements.
