Workforce Development Manager

Job Description

Overview

The London Borough of Harrow is looking for a Workforce Development Manager, this is a pivotal, strategic role within the Adult Social Care Division, reporting to the Principal Social Worker. This position is responsible for cultivating a culture of clinical and professional expertise across the directorate, ensuring high-quality social work and professional practice in line with the Council's vision.

The Lead acts as a professional and strategic figurehead, tasked with embedding core practice models—including strengths-based practice and anti-discriminatory principles—throughout all training and quality assurance activities. A deep understanding of relevant legislation and Adult Safeguarding practice is essential.

Crucially, the role involves collaborating with the Quality Board and managers to implement the Quality Assurance Framework, providing advisory and reflective support to ensure practice is compliant and effective. The Lead also plays a vital part in collating learning from serious incidents and Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) to drive continuous service improvement and uphold the highest professional standards, ultimately ensuring citizens remain safe, their well-being is promoted, and their diverse needs are met by a highly skilled and ethically informed workforce.

The Workforce Development Lead will design, commission, and deliver comprehensive learning and development programs, addressing both statutory requirements and emerging best practice. This includes overseeing the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) program for newly qualified social workers, mentoring practice educators, and developing clear career pathways to foster staff retention and growth. The role requires exceptional communication skills to influence stakeholders at all levels, championing continuous professional development and robust practice standards. This is a critical opportunity to shape the future of Adult Social Care in Harrow, driving excellence and innovation in service delivery and practice development.

About You

The successful candidate will have:

• Professional Social Work Qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
  
• Expert, detailed understanding of Adult Safeguarding practice, legislation, and research.
  
• In-depth knowledge of key legislation, including the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
  
• Substantial experience in a strategic, leadership, or professional lead role within an Adult Social Care setting.
  
• Ability to act as a professional and strategic figurehead and inspire staff.
  
• Proven ability to design, commission, deliver, and evaluate comprehensive workforce development and learning programs.
  
• Experience in implementing Quality Assurance Frameworks and working with Quality Boards.
  
• Demonstrated ability to collating and apply learning from Serious Incidents and Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) to drive service improvement.
  
• Exceptional knowledge of core practice models, particularly strengths-based practice and anti-discriminatory principles, with experience in embedding them organizationally.
  
• Experience with the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) program or Practice Educator roles, demonstrating ability to lead and motivate staff/students within a culture of learning.
  
• Highly developed communication and influencing skills to advise and engage a variety of stakeholders.
  
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) relevant to social work practice, leadership, and learning/development.

This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
Related Documents

For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/Selection Criteria

About us

Harrow Council is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit with a range of cultures, religions and opinions that come together to produce high achieving schools and a close and friendly community. Located 10 miles from the city centre and just 13 minutes to Euston from Harrow & Wealdstone station there are great transport links via the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail service. It is easily accessible to the M1, M25 and A406.

Other information

Support for candidates visit:Harrow.gov.uk Our behavioural indicators roles below G11 and above G11 Here at Harrow Council, the vision is one of 'Working together to make a difference for Harrow' Please click here to view Harrow Council's benefits

Important Note

To deliver our commitment to equality of opportunity in service provision, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs at the London Borough of Harrow. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender, reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, or maternity unless a Genuine Occupational Qualification applies. As such, we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. For further information, please read our equality statement.

As a disability-confident employer, we are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and accessible to everyone. This includes reasonably adjusting the recruitment process for those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. For further information, please contact us at resourcing@harrow.gov.uk

London Borough of Harrow is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Harrow operates stringent, safer recruitment procedures.

Due to the high number of applications received for some posts, we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Harrow redeployees will be given priority consideration.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, any your data protection rights, can be found by visiting www.cifas.org.uk/fpn