3 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • The Workforce Development Manager is a key middle management role within the Practice Improvement service, positioned in the Centre of Excellence. The role is responsible for leading the design, coordination, and delivery of a high-quality workforce development programme across adult and/or children’s social care. • The postholder will work closely with senior leaders, operational managers, universities, external partners, and training providers to ensure that social care professionals receive innovative, effective, and inclusive training opportunities that support continuous learning, professional development, and improved outcomes for residents. • This role plays a strategic part in shaping the culture of the social care workforce, with a focus on supporting learning pathways including ASYE, apprenticeships, and student placements, while ensuring that training aligns with organisational priorities, statutory requirements, and national standards. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Lead, motivate, and develop a workforce development team to deliver high performance and quality outcomes. • Design, deliver and evaluate comprehensive workforce development strategies and programmes that enhance career pathways and sustain a learning culture. • Lead and manage ASYE, apprenticeship and student placement programmes, ensuring high-quality professional support and oversight. • Conduct training needs analysis across social care services and implement effective learning and development solutions. • Collaborate with social care leadership, universities, Skills for Care, and other external partners to align training provision with workforce priorities. • Commission, procure, and monitor external training providers, ensuring value for money and compliance with procurement procedures. • Represent the service at local, regional, and national forums on workforce development matters. • Contribute to the wider corporate workforce development strategy and organisational improvement. • Ensure all learning and development activity is inclusive, evidence-informed, and promotes equality, diversity, and anti-discriminatory practice. • Monitor budgets and contracts effectively, identifying and mitigating financial risks. • Provide workforce development reports, performance updates, and progress briefings to senior stakeholders. • Deputise for the Head of Practice Improvement as required. Skills/Experience: • Demonstrable experience of leading learning and development initiatives in a social care setting. • Proven ability to manage teams, set clear targets, coach staff, and drive service improvement. • Experience of managing training programmes, budgets, and projects to time and budget. • Excellent communication skills – able to engage, influence, and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels. • Skilled in commissioning, contract management, and partnership working with education providers. • Ability to analyse need and design inclusive training programmes that address current and future workforce challenges. • Committed to safeguarding, continuous improvement, and promoting a high-performance culture. • Experience of workforce development within both children’s and adult social care services. • Knowledge of wider national workforce development policy and funding landscape. Additional Information: • The closing date: 15/08/2025 @17:00. • Relevant degree, diploma or professional qualification (e.g. in social care or CIPD). • Strong knowledge and understanding of workforce development within adult and/or children’s social care.