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Practice Leader

After gaining more experience within a care career, there are opportunities to further progress in to practice leadership roles such as deputy management and service management roles. Find out more information below.

Deputy Managers lead and manage the care team, helping them to deliver high standards across the organisation.

You’ll also play an important role in supporting the manager of the service.
Deputy/Team managers are an important position within any social care setting including care homes, supported living flats, in the community, or local authorities.

All roles that involve supporting or working with vulnerable individuals will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS ) check. Find out more about information about DBS checks involve here.

Role Overview:

  • Supporting your manager to run your workplace, including covering in their absence and ensuring standards of care are maintained.
  • Ensure the service safely plans staffing levels and complies with legislation and regulatory requirements.
  • Undertake care assessments of people needing care and support, as well as working closely with healthcare professionals and others.
  • Helping the service to recruit and develop new care workers, supporting, supervising and performance managing them

Salary expectation:
The average deputy care manager salary in the United Kingdom is around £30,005 per year according to Talent. Entry level positions start at £24,981 per year while most experienced workers can make up to £43,248 per year. This may vary depending on region and provider.

Skills and Experience:
You’ll ideally need to have experience and qualifications before progressing into a Deputy manager or Team manager role. Experiencing of directly delivering care can be highly beneficial in understanding the needs of your team. Specific skills needed to work in this role include:

  • Supervisory and team leading skills.
  • Effective communication skills.
  • Performance management.
  • Self-motivation and resilience.
  • Understand regulatory requirements.

It is recommended that you complete the Level 2 or Level 3 Adult Social Care/ Health and Social Care qualifications or Apprenticeship Standards before progressing into management roles.

The Lead to succeed learning programme can also be beneficial to help prepare you for the role and support you to understand the key areas of adult social care management. Completing the Manager Induction Standards or Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership are also options to support you with progression into management roles.

Opportunities:
If you’re interested in working as a deputy manager or assistant manager, it is recommended to join a care service at a more junior position and working towards these roles.  Existing experience is important, and a good understanding of health and social care can really help as you progress into more senior positions. If you’re currently working in social care as a team leader or supervisory role, speak to your employer about opportunities to progress into deputy or team management roles.

Once in a deputy/team manager role, you would be gaining essential knowledge and skills to enable to you progress into higher level management positions. The core qualification for social care managers is the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care. You can only do this qualification when you’re working in a management role. 

Management roles in social care:

  • First line managers such as service managers or residential unit managers.
  • Middle managers such as assistant director or department head.
  • Senior managers such as service director or chief executive.

Managers can work in any social care setting including care homes, supported living flats, in the community, or local authorities.

Role overview:

  • Overseeing the day to day running of a care service.
  • Leading and managing staff so they can perform their roles safely and to the best of their ability.
  • Managing budgets and contracts.
  • Making strategic decisions about the future and growth of your care service.
  • Leading on specific projects or clinical areas, for example setting up a new care service.

Salary expectation:

The average registered care manager salary in the United Kingdom is around £35,027 per year according to Talent. Entry level positions start at £31,358 per year while most experienced workers make up to £47,513 per year. This may vary depending on region and provider.

Skills and experience:
You’ll ideally need to have experience and qualifications before progressing into a Deputy manager or Team manager role. Experiencing of directly delivering care can be highly beneficial in understanding the needs of your team. Specific skills needed to work in this role include:

  • Strong supervisory and leadership skills and the ability to motivate others.
  • Effective communication skills.
  • Self-motivation and resilience.
  • A good understanding of regulatory requirements.
  • The ability to think strategically to develop your organisation.
  • Good project management and organisational skills.
  • Prior experience in performance management

Opportunities:
The core qualification for social care managers is the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care. You can only do this qualification when you’re working in a management role.

It is recommended to ideally complete this qualification before becoming a care manager. If you’re currently working in social care and interested in becoming a social care manager, speak to your employer about opportunities to progress.

Care managers would usually have prior experience of working in health or social care, but it is sometimes possible to transfer from a different sector.
It is also recommended that new care managers undertake the 'Lead to succeed' learning programme.