Principal Social Worker

Job description

Job summary

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Salary: £57,814 - £61,489 per annum

Hours per week: 37 hours

Interview date: 1st December 2026

Main duties of the job

This is a high-profile opportunity for someone who wants to lead practice, influence culture and make a real difference for adults, carers and communities across Wiltshire.

Wiltshire is a forward-thinking local authority with strong foundations and a clear ambition for the future. Following our CQC Good rating, we are building on what works while continuing to raise expectations for excellent, strengths-based and person-centred practice.

This role offers the chance to lead visible, system-wide change. You will champion professional standards, support confident and reflective practice, and work with colleagues, partners and people who draw on support to turn our practice model into meaningful improvements in everyday experience. You will use evidence, audit, feedback and learning to strengthen quality, drive improvement and help shape a workforce that is ambitious, inclusive and proud of its practice.

We are looking for a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England, with significant senior leadership experience in Adult Social Care. You will bring expert knowledge of adult safeguarding, the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and associated legislation, alongside a strong track record of leading change, improving practice and developing others. You will be a credible professional voice, able to influence at senior level while staying connected to frontline practice.

About us

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos.

We are committed to creating a workplace where positive relationships thrive and everyone feels engaged, supported and able to do their best. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect, guided by our vision and Our Identity.a 'One Council' ethos.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Principal Social Worker your specific duties are:

• Under the direction of the Head of Transforming Adult Social Care & Quality to be responsible for the development of quality social work practice within adults social care, with a focus on the identification of opportunities for service improvement and to provide independent scrutiny of practice and standards.
• Under the direction of the Head of Transforming Adult Social Care & Quality to be responsible for the development of quality social work practice within adults social care, with a focus on the identification of opportunities for service improvement and to provide independent scrutiny of practice and standards.
• To use your specialist knowledge and skills to coordinate and deliver a program of learning and development in response to a training needs analysis and in accordance with the Professional Capabilities Framework, ensuring staff are skilled to meet the requirements for social work registration and validation.
• To oversee the operational delivery of improvement initiatives and champion professional Social Work and early intervention and prevention practice including with others through the oversight of audit programmes.
• To lead on the development and review of policies and procedures relating to adult social care services ensuring there are effective systems in place to deliver improved outcomes for service users.
• To support change management processes to embed quality improvement measures and the delivery of a range of quality and efficiency initiatives aligned to strategic objectives
• To represent Wiltshire Council and be involved in partnership work and stakeholder engagement
• Provide expert advice and guidance on complex operational issues.
• Identify and manage risks within operational practice across all practice areas, ensuring that significant risks are escalated as appropriate and having overall responsibility for ensuring improvement are implemented in a timely fashion
• Oversee and ensure staff engagement, personal and professional development and succession planning including having lead responsibility for development and implementation of the Workforce Strategy.
• Take overall responsibility for the ongoing development and success of the social care academy, our Learning & Development Hub (SW content) and ASC About.
• Ensure the quality of practice from and support to staff in student placements and ASYE year is sufficiently robust to ensure safety of the service delivery and success for participants, including working with the OD team around portfolio validation and review of placements.
• To develop strategies in relation to recruitment and retention (including the using of apprenticeships and training pathways) and have oversight of the development of career pathways for staff across the directorate

Job description
Job responsibilities

Principal Social Worker your specific duties are:

• Under the direction of the Head of Transforming Adult Social Care & Quality to be responsible for the development of quality social work practice within adults social care, with a focus on the identification of opportunities for service improvement and to provide independent scrutiny of practice and standards.
• Under the direction of the Head of Transforming Adult Social Care & Quality to be responsible for the development of quality social work practice within adults social care, with a focus on the identification of opportunities for service improvement and to provide independent scrutiny of practice and standards.
• To use your specialist knowledge and skills to coordinate and deliver a program of learning and development in response to a training needs analysis and in accordance with the Professional Capabilities Framework, ensuring staff are skilled to meet the requirements for social work registration and validation.
• To oversee the operational delivery of improvement initiatives and champion professional Social Work and early intervention and prevention practice including with others through the oversight of audit programmes.
• To lead on the development and review of policies and procedures relating to adult social care services ensuring there are effective systems in place to deliver improved outcomes for service users.
• To support change management processes to embed quality improvement measures and the delivery of a range of quality and efficiency initiatives aligned to strategic objectives
• To represent Wiltshire Council and be involved in partnership work and stakeholder engagement
• Provide expert advice and guidance on complex operational issues.
• Identify and manage risks within operational practice across all practice areas, ensuring that significant risks are escalated as appropriate and having overall responsibility for ensuring improvement are implemented in a timely fashion
• Oversee and ensure staff engagement, personal and professional development and succession planning including having lead responsibility for development and implementation of the Workforce Strategy.
• Take overall responsibility for the ongoing development and success of the social care academy, our Learning & Development Hub (SW content) and ASC About.
• Ensure the quality of practice from and support to staff in student placements and ASYE year is sufficiently robust to ensure safety of the service delivery and success for participants, including working with the OD team around portfolio validation and review of placements.
• To develop strategies in relation to recruitment and retention (including the using of apprenticeships and training pathways) and have oversight of the development of career pathways for staff across the directorate

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Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council
Address

County Hall

Bythesea Rd

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8JN

United Kingdom

Employer's website