Job info	Job info details
Job title	Principal Social Worker – Adult Social Care
Strategic team/Directorate	Adults and Community Services
Service	Adult Social Care
Business unit	Operations
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Divisional Director, Adult Social Care Operations
Accountable to (line manager)	Divisional Director, Adult Social Care Operations
Salary grade	O
JE ref	HAY131

1. Key purpose of job

• Provide professional leadership for adult social work and social care, embedding high standards of practice aligned to legislation and guidance across Torbay’s Adult Social Care.
• Contribute to senior leadership, setting and implementing practice standards, driving strength‑based practice and cultural change to improve outcomes.
• Represent the social work profession and practitioner voice to senior leaders (including the Director of Adult Social Services and Trust Executives) and relevant national bodies. 

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Consistent, high‑quality, evidence‑based social work practice and robust governance across adult social care services.
• Effective quality assurance and learning culture with clear improvement actions embedded following reviews, audits, and inspections.
• A resilient, well‑supported workforce with clear professional development pathways and improved recruitment  and retention.
• Strong, system‑wide safeguarding that evidences Care Act compliance and learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs).

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• Lead implementation, maintenance and review of social work governance and practice standards, ensuring statutory compliance (e.g., Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act) and consistent quality of practice.
• Provide expert professional advice and oversight in complex/high‑profile matters (e.g., legal or cross‑boundary disputes, serious case reviews, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman cases).
• Lead the Practice Quality Assurance Framework, including audits and reviews, and ensure findings drive measurable service improvements.
• Champion evidence‑based, strength‑based practice; model use of research and support reflective supervision, case consultation and learning forums.
• Identify and remove organisational barriers to excellent practice; influence policy and strategy to reflect national directions and local priorities.
• Provide professional leadership across the system with NHS and other partners; represent adult social work and social care in regional and national forums (including as single point of contact with Social Work England for ASC).
• Oversee professional workforce strategy and planning; lead recruitment, retention and development (including Assessed and Supported Year in Employment and progression to Experienced Social Worker).
• Lead the social work and wider IASC Health Check; uphold the Local Government Association Standards for Employers.
• Direct and oversee adult safeguarding practice improvement, working with the Safeguarding Practice Improvement Lead to embed learning from SARs/IMRs.
• Collaborate with Commissioning and operational leaders to align practice standards with commissioning intentions and service redesign.
• 3.13 Manage political expectations and sensitivities; provide clear professional advice to senior leaders and elected members.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• Direct responsibility for the professional practice staffing budget of approximately £200-400k (practice leadership and related roles).
• Contributory / advisory role to Adult Social Care budget setting and resource allocation within an overall ASC budget of approximately £130m. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Direct line management of practice leadership roles (including Practice Quality, Safeguarding, and Workforce.
• Professional leadership, advice and guidance to managers of qualified social workers across IASC.
• Provide coaching/mentoring to senior colleagues and oversee professional standards, supervision and reflective practice. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working environment and conditions. The role operates across council and partner sites with occasional travel across Torbay and the wider system; hybrid working applies. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical demands. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Standard IT equipment and systems; no dedicated specialist equipment. Occasional use of a pool or own vehicle for business travel in line with policy. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

External: 

• NHS partners and wider health and care system leaders. 
• Social Work England and professional networks. 
• Local Government Association and regional PSW networks. 
• Safeguarding partners (including Torbay Safeguarding Adults Board). 
• Universities and placement providers. 
• Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (as required). 

Internal:

• Director of Adult Social Services (DASS). 
• Divisional Director, Adult Social Care Operations. 
• Trust Executives and Chief Executive. 
• Elected Members/Lead Members. 
• Heads of Service, Operational and Practice Managers. 
• Workforce Development and Organisational Development. 
• Quality & Performance and Business Intelligence Teams. 
• Commissioning and Finance colleagues. 
• Principal Occupational Therapist and other professional leads. 

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job. 

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
• This post is office based at Tor Hill House, Torquay but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date. The role can have an element of hybrid working.
• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Principal Social Worker – Adult Social Care
Strategic team/Directorate	Adults and Community Services
Service	Adult Social Care
Business unit	Operations

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Strategic leadership with ability to influence across complex health and social care systems.
• Excellent oral and written communication; able to motivate and influence at all levels including Directors, Executives and Elected Members.
• Ability to lead practice improvement, drive cultural change and embed evidence‑based, strength‑based practice.
• High‑level analytical and problem‑solving skills; able to balance competing pressures and manage risks.
• Skilled in quality assurance, governance, supervision, reflective practice and case consultation.
• Strong partnership, relationship‑building and negotiation skills across multi‑agency environments.
• Sound political acumen with tact and diplomacy.
• Project and programme discipline: planning, prioritisation and performance management.
• Resilience and ability to sustain healthy working practices.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Coaching and mentoring skills for senior leaders and managers.
• Advanced data literacy and use of management information to inform practice improvement.
• Experience of public engagement and co‑production with people with lived experience. 

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of adult social care legislation, policy and guidance, including the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act.
• Best practice in adult social care, social care governance and practice models.
• National agendas for social care reform and professional standards (including Professional Capabilities Framework and LGA Standards for Employers). 

Desirable knowledge

• Commissioning frameworks and market shaping in adult social care.
• Regulatory frameworks and inspection methodologies across health and care. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Substantial, successful strategic and operational leadership at senior level within adult social care (Statutory sector).
• Proven track record of leading and influencing practice improvement and service direction across multidisciplinary and multi‑agency settings.
• Evidence of leading to complex change in large organizations and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Experience of developing workforce strategies, recruitment and retention, and professional development pathways (including ASYE).
• Demonstrable success in quality assurance, responding to reviews/inspections and embedding learning.
• Effective financial stewardship and contribution to budget management and resource allocation.
• Managing political interfaces and complex stakeholder expectations with diplomacy.
• Proven extensive management experience. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Working as part of an integrated care system and/or with NHS provider partners.
• Leading regional/national professional networks and influencing policy. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Professional Social Work qualification (e.g., CSS, CQSW, DipSW, Degree in Social Work) or equivalent.
• Registration with Social Work England or equivalent regulatory body. 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Post‑graduate qualification in leadership, management or a relevant practice area, or equivalent.
• Coaching and/or supervision qualification, or equivalent.
• Management qualification or proven extensive management experience. 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. 
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties. 
• Ability to accommodate on-call working. 
• Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.