Job summary
- Main area
- Principal Manager
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 373-AAD0100
- Employer
- Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Stein Centre
- Town
- Birkenhead
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 31/03/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 21/04/2026
Employer heading
Principal Manager
Band 8a
Job overview
We are looking for a Principal Manager for Social care staff within a busy inner city Integrated CMHT.
Providing all management functions for AMHP, Experienced, NQSW, student social workers and Care Navigators providing supervision, appraisal and performance management.
Supporting all Adult social care statutory and contracted duties relevant to cases open to CWP's CMHT's and ancillary teams which will include Care Act Assessments, Safeguarding, MHA/ MCA, AMHP, and Best Interest.
Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 3rd April and the proposed interview date is 21st April
Main duties of the job
To lead a team consisting of social workers and care navigators alongside health lead colleagues, within an integrated multidisciplinary service.
Providing all management functions for AMHP, Experienced SW's, NQSW, student social workers and Care Navigators providing supervision, appraisal and performance management.
Supporting all Adult social care statutory and contracted duties relevant to cases open to CWP's CMHT's and ancillary teams which will include Care Act Assessments, Safeguarding, MHA/ MCA, AMHP, and Best Interest.
Working for our organisation
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you’ll find something to suit you at CWP.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [email protected] or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Social Work qualification e.g. Masters in Social Work; or equivalent knowledge and experience
- Registered with Social Work England (or Social Work Wales) and be able to evidence this.
- Evidence of continued professional development (CPD) at Masters level i.e Practice Educator (PE) , Best |Interest Assessor (BIA), Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP).
Desirable criteria
- Management qualification ILM level 5 or equivalent.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential criteria
- Evidence of local budget management and regulations at strategic and operational levels.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation relating to Adults and their carers. This includes the Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act, Safeguarding and NHS CHC Framework.
- Ability to analyse information and form a judgement regarding appropriate interventions with, adults and their families.
- An understanding of the social care framework for information sharing between professionals and agencies.
- Knowledge of statutory power and authority in exercising judgement.
- An excellent understanding of robust quality assurance and its impact on outcomes.
- Ability to prioritise, organise and plan tasks, meeting agreed timescales.
- Ability to analyse performance information and put in place an improvement plan to address any issues.
- Ability to challenge the impact of discrimination and deprivation.
- Displays excellent communication skills and professionalism in building and developing influential and respectful partnerships.
- Demonstrates self-awareness and the ability to inspire and motivate others.
- Ability to develop a culture of learning and improvement where staff are sufficiently stretched and developed to meet their aspirations.
- Ability to work within a challenging and testing environment.
- Proactive approach to understanding the developing adult social care landscape, regionally and nationally.
- Knowledge and understanding of maintaining accurate and efficient systems and records, evidencing a contribution to development.
- Ability to develop performance monitoring systems that ensure consistently high quality Social Work practice.
- Ability to converse with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of people management policies and procedures.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience of managing a team within a Social Care environment.
- Experience of dealing effectively with employee performance management issues in line with corporate policies.
- Significant experience of mentoring and coaching others across all levels of social care practitioners.
- Significant experience of dealing with complex cases carrying risk of harm.
- Experience of working with adults in statutory services.
- Experience of working with partner agencies.
Desirable criteria
- Significant experience of managing complex cases carrying risk of harm across a range of social care settings.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Chris Judson
- Job title
- Head of Service
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07717717562
- Additional information
If you consider yourself Neurodivergent and need help to complete your application form, please contact [email protected] or telephone 01244 393100
List jobs with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FoundationTrust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors