Job overview
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.
Please note the provisional Interview date is 7th August 2026.
Main duties of the job
- 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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience operating at senior leadership level within a Social Care and Social Work context, providing professional leadership across complex services, portfolios or pathways
- Evidence of Social Care and Social Work professional and governance expertise supported by a comprehensive portfolio of learning, Demonstrable experience of leading quality and safety improvement, including responding to incidents, complaints, assurance findings and learning reviews
- Experience of evaluation and feedback systems
Qualifications
Essential
- Registration as a Social Worker with Social Work England
- Evidence of significant post qualification professional development, including advanced leadership experience and advanced or specialist practice
- Master’s level professional qualification Post-graduate qualifications including wider knowledge and skills covering topics such as leadership or management
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- In depth knowledge of national and local health policy, quality, safety and professional governance frameworks within the NHS and integrated care environments and their application to Social Care and Social Work practice
- Comprehensive knowledge and experience of quality assurance, audit, incident learning and governance
- Proven leadership skills with a track record as someone able to set, uphold and role model Social Care and Social Work standards, ensuring safe, effective and ethical practice across complex care delivery environments
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - Ability to provide clear, confident professional advice and assurance to senior internal leadership and system partners, and proven ability to influence and challenge constructively, strengthening quality, safety and care standards
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Associate Director - Social Care & Social Work with Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust in Chesterfield, Midlands, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £79,504 - £91,609 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 29 Jul 2026.
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