Practice Manager Review

I am a Practice Manager and a qualified Social Worker for a local authority. I manage a team of Social Workers and Social Care Assessors, attached to a local hospital. We are responsible for the safe and timely discharge of patients and assessing them for their longer term care needs.

Yes, I am a qualified Social Worker but did not have a management qualification. This has taught me about leadership styles, coaching and mentoring, strategy, project management, how to submit a successful business case and a wider understanding of our organisation and funding.

I have found it far more challenging than I ever anticipated. It has been a significant challenge and made me think about how I lead, how I have developed and how I develop my team. My skills coach, [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] has been invaluable, I could not have done this without her.

Very well organised. Information about each unit in detail before you start, to help you prepare. Lots of resources via Moodle before and after classes. I really valued the one to one support from my tutors, providing academic support. Good use of Teams during lock-down, meant we never missed a lesson.

My employer has been excellent, I have had a study day, each week for the duration of my course to enable me to attend university and complete my research and assignments. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity. My manager has been my biggest advocate and mentor.

As much as you need. Face to face classes once a fortnight and self directed study in between. One to ones as needed which are invaluable and a very supportive and approachable skills coach. I also made use of the study skills webinars and classes available to support my learning.

It has provided me with a framework for my job, why I do what I do. It has made me think about how I like to learn and my leadership style. It has made me think about improvements and developments for my team and make successful bids for funding.

There are a lot of opportunities via engagement weeks, student union etc. They have also provided networking events should you wish to access them for career development, however I am already in the company I wish to be and have a career plan already mapped out.

Yes

Because it has given me the opportunity, funding and time out of work to complete my CMDA management degree. This has been a significant amount of my time and a significant financial cost to the local authority but shows how much it values us as employees.

To make the most of every opportunity they offer and give it everything you can, even if at the start, it is very scary!