Join Devon County Council’s Adult Social Care Workforce Development Team and help shape the learning, development and professional practice that supports excellent outcomes for adults across Devon.
About the role
You’ll lead and support our Adult Social Care learning and development offer—making sure it is evidence-informed, values-led and aligned to professional standards across Social Work, Occupational Therapy and wider social care roles.
This is a new and influential post. Managed by the Workforce Development Service Manager and working alongside our Social Work Workforce Development Lead and Occupational Therapy Workforce Development Lead, you’ll help optimise the quality of practice and service delivery through high-quality workforce development.
You’ll ensure our learning offer aligns with Devon’s People Strategy and Integrated Adult Social Care Values, relevant legislation and national policy/best practice, and what matters to people who draw on care and support.
What you’ll do
1. Line-manage up to three Workforce Development Officers, providing coaching, direction and support.
2. Co-design and lead the workforce development learning strategy for Adult Social Care, including training needs analysis and commissioning/procuring a core learning offer for operational and commissioning teams.
3. Oversee learning provider contracts and ensure robust evaluation, impact analysis and continuous improvement.
4. Lead time-limited projects in response to service priorities equality, diversity and inclusion; quality improvement; dementia learning).
5. Provide back-up delivery support for moving and handling training when required.
6. Work with commissioning colleagues and external partners to shape training initiatives that support both Devon County Council teams and the commissioned care workforce.
Who we’re looking for
You’ll bring practical experience of Adult Social Care and a track record of turning workforce development needs into high-impact learning. You’ll be confident building relationships with practitioners, leaders and partners—and you’ll role-model Devon’s Integrated Adult Social Care Values.
Essential skills and experience include:
7. Strong prioritisation and planning skills, with the ability to deliver to tight timescales.
8. Excellent communication skills—able to handle demanding or sensitive conversations and write clear, concise documents.
9. Learning and development experience: identifying needs, designing and implementing plans, and evaluating impact and effectiveness.
10. A relevant professional qualification at degree level Social Work, Occupational Therapy or equivalent) and significant, relevant Adult Social Care experience.
11. An inclusive, people-centred approach—enthusiastic and positive about supporting others to develop and achieve their potential.
12. A good understanding of the learning needs of Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and other Adult Social Care roles—across Devon County Council teams and the commissioned workforce, including colleagues supporting Care Act assessment work within DPT mental health pathways.
13. A passion for designing and delivering engaging learning—facilitating training with energy, credibility and a focus on real-world practice impact.