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Social services managers plan and co-ordinate the health, welfare and social care support provided by local authorities and charities.
You could work: between 8am and 6pm;
There will be
3.7% more Social services manager jobs in 2029.
In your local area
In your day-to-day duties, you could:
You could work in the community or in an office.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification before applying for a management trainee place with a local authority. Most subjects are accepted, though you may have an advantage with a qualification in:
You'll usually need:
You could learn some of the skills you need for this job through a college course, like a Level 4 or 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management.
You'll usually need:
You may be able to start on a higher apprenticeship for children, young people and families managers, or care leadership and management, then do further on-the-job training.
You could also do a social worker degree apprenticeship to get a trainee manager's position.
You'll usually need:
You'll need several years' management experience and a relevant qualification like the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership in Health and Social Care to apply for job vacancies directly.
Employers will expect you to have a clear understanding of legislation, safety standards and social policy for your chosen field.
You'll need to:
You'll find more advice about working in social services from Think Care Careers.
With experience, you could specialise in a particular area, like mental health or children's services.
You could also become a head of service, chief executive, assistant director or director of social services.