Requirements

Social services manager or director - requirements

As a social services manager or director, you’ll use your organisational skills to plan and coordinate services provided by local authorities and charities. Learn more about a career in social services, find out what it involves and what you’ll need to study and do to get a role.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a social services manager or director?

A degree in any subject is needed but a relevant one in social science will prove most useful. Subjects to consider include:

You’ll typically need an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject to start working as a social worker, even if you have a HND or foundation degree already.

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a social services manager or director?

Although it’s not essential to do a postgraduate course, a postgraduate degree can help you transfer into social work from elsewhere or increase your career opportunities.

Examples of taught or research degrees at postgraduate level include:

Advanced professional practice
Advanced residential childcare
Autism spectrum conditions and learning
Child protection and adult safeguarding
Health and social sciences
International social work and social development
Professional leadership for social work
Social policy
Social research

What skills do you need to be a social services manager or director?

As well as being an advocate for improving outcomes in people’s lives, you’ll be a positive, empathetic and fair team leader, supporting social workers to do their job well.

Hard skills usually include:

Anti-social behaviour
Autism spectrum disorders
Information privacy
Learning disabilities
Mental health
Nursing
Rehabilitation
Risk analysis
Social work

Soft skills include:

Advocacy
Communication
Customer service
Enthusiasm
Innovation
Leadership
Management
Planning
Training

Do you need work experience to be a social services manager or director?

Work experience is important as a social worker or as a manager in the social services, as you’ll need to show potential employers a track record of success. You’ll need substantial experience as a social worker or to have successfully completed a management training programme to secure a manager or director level role.