INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Practice Development and Improvement Lead
Salary: PO6 £51,356- £54,495
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Merrion/Hybrid
As a Practice Development and Improvement Lead you’ll thrive in a role where you can turn insight into impact and drive meaningful change in frontline practice. You’ll be at the forefront of shaping and embedding best practice—using learning from real experiences to influence how we work, support colleagues to grow, and ultimately improve outcomes for the people we serve.

It’s not about compliance or fault finding – it’s about championing a learning culture, where insight is used to empower practitioners, build confidence, and continually strengthen the quality of practice. Through your work, you’ll help translate reflection into action, ensuring that practice is not only effective but person-centred, strengths-based, and making a genuine, lasting difference to people’s lives.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you
As a Practice Development and Improvement Lead, you will bring to the role:

Highly effective communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across team and organisational boundaries to lead, influence and maintain positive working relationships across a range of stakeholders.
Ability to develop cases for improvement which clearly articulate the need for change/improvement, what change is being sought and why.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to gather, interpret, present data from a range of sources, as well as produce recommendations aligned to achieving objectives.
Able to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
Able to work on own initiative and make effective decisions and judgements

About the role
As our next Practice Development and Improvement Lead, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of adult social work in Leeds—leading the embedding of our Quality Assurance Framework and turning learning into meaningful, lasting improvements in frontline practice. You’ll inspire and support teams across the city, using your expertise in strengths-based practice, the Care Act, and safeguarding to drive high-quality, person-centred care, while influencing culture, improving performance, and making a real difference to the lives of people we support.

The role is integral to our Quality Assurance and Professional Practice Service, where you will be central to connecting insight, learning, and practice—ensuring that what we know leads to what we do, and that a culture of continuous improvement is embedded across all areas of adult social care.

What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply
Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Siobhan Rodley (Service Delivery Manager Quality Assurance, Practice Development and Improvement) Call 01133789912 or email Siobhan.rodley@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

The leadership and management of projects to improve outcomes for adults by improving practice and performance within social work and safeguarding. The role will lead on the development and delivery of the Adults and Health and Safeguarding improvement agenda in one or more of the following areas: Process and practice development, Policy Development, Developing quality assurance and performance management, Partnership Development and delivery, Business engagement and change Involving adults.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage significant, varied, and complex projects aligned to the appropriate quality and performance framework, ensuring successful delivery.
Lead and manage project teams in determining business requirements, defining and scoping change initiatives, managing risks and issues and effectively delivering agreed outcomes.
Lead, manage and advise on the research and analysis required to inform or drive the delivery of the city and Adults and Health plans; ensuring priorities are delivered
Lead colleagues across the organisation to manage change in an engaging way which mitigates the risks and delivers the business benefits and sustains improvement.
Lead the delivery of key areas of work ensuring strategic priorities are delivered to a high standard.
Take a lead in ensuring appropriate use of business and information technology, processes and systems to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
Chair and manage meetings as required, including agenda planning and preparation.
Engage with colleagues, partners and other stakeholders to gain agreement to, and ensure ongoing commitment to delivering/ improving practice and performance.
Engage with partners and stakeholders to gain agreement and commitment to delivering change, co-operation, and resources to successfully deliver improvement.
Manage competing priorities, ensuring consistency of approach, with a key focus on delivery and quality.
Involve adults and partner agencies in change and improvement.
Develop improved performance management, quality assurance, improved model processes and best / next practice.
Support improvement and preparation for inspection.
Provide leadership, management, framework, support and guidance on the application of appropriate methodology, procedures, tools and techniques.
Provide leadership to colleagues across the Directorate and Partners in the development and delivery of appropriate solutions and systems which support delivery of the policy and performance agenda.
Prepare and deliver briefings, reports and presentations to a variety of people within and outside of the Council.
Supervision and matrix management of staff within the service, identifying and planning for required resource within practice improvement programmes and carry out staffing appraisals as required.
Manage and control delegated budgets, resources and assets effectively and efficiently in line with the councils Procedures to deliver on agreed priorities and ensure effective spending of budgeted sums.
Work flexibly across Partnership, Governance and Leadership Support, matching your skills and experience to meet the needs of the Directorate.
Work with officers, members and partners to achieve service performance and deliver outcomes, targets and objectives in line with the city and the directorate’s plans.
Build strong, dynamic relationships and networks, positively engaging with individuals, members and partners as appropriate in the delivery of better outcomes.
Maintain knowledge of local, regional and national issues as they relate to the issues governed and managed within the safeguarding, specialist and targeted service.
Promote, demonstrate and evidence the Council’s values and expected behaviours through your own role and through the work of the service.
Be aware of relevant legislation, national standards, best practice, policies and procedures and interpret and apply them consistently.
Implement, manage and adhere to effective governance and risk management arrangements.
Manage and handle information and data in line with Council's policies on Information Governance.
Respond effectively and appropriately to customer enquiries.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Appropriate professional qualification (DipSW, CQSW or equivalent) Registration with Social Work England (SWE) upon commencement of the post and maintain registration.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Able to use initiative to develop solutions to issues and problems ensuring effective service delivery.
Able to review current processes and delivery models, identify areas for improvement/change.
Able to develop cases for improvement which clearly articulate the need for change/improvement, what change is being sought and why.
Highly effective communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across team and organisational boundaries to lead, influence and maintain positive working relationships across a range of stakeholders.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to gather, interpret, present data from a range of sources, as well as produce recommendations aligned to achieving objectives.
Able to provide professional advice at a senior management level.
Able to grasp and work within the council's Governance framework.
Able to manage projects and work within a programme/project environment.
Able to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
Able to work on own initiative and make effective decisions and judgements.
Able to promote and manage change.
Able to prepare and present reports and complex information succinctly and effectively to a range of audiences including senior leaders and elected members.
Knowledge of legislation, policies and statutory duties that local government carry
Understanding of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality and data protection
Understanding of the current challenges facing public services, both locally and nationally.
Good understanding of current challenges being faced by local government and the wider public sector.
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals,
Knowledge of relevant financial regulations
Evidence of maintaining and applying up-to-date knowledge of current thinking and developments
Understanding of Adults and Health, quality assurance and how this relates to best practice and improving outcomes.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and to form positive relationships with a range of stakeholders and partners.
Experience of managing and monitoring performance, setting clear objectives for the review of individual service, locality, and outcome level performance.
Experience of management in a relevant service or organisation.
Experience of managing competing priorities, risks and adapting to changing circumstances.
Experience of managing and contributing to delivery within complex environments involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
Experience of the engagement of appropriate stakeholders in decision making processes and delivery.
Experience of promoting, leading and implementing improvement activity that improves outcomes and service quality and supports a culture that drives up standards, performance and delivers sustainable change.
Experience of challenging existing ways of working and driving through change.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics

High degree of personal integrity with a record of promoting fairness, equality of opportunity and diversity
Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

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