Senior Social Worker

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Additional Payments: Essential Car User Allowance

Closing Date: 29 April 2025

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: In Person

This Role is Subject to:

1. Qualification: Social Work Qualification and registration with Social Work England.

2. Essential Car Documentation: This post is a designated Essential Car User. Therefore, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work. You will receive the Essential Car User Allowance.

3. Driving Licence: The successful candidate should hold a full clean driving licence as you will be required to drive a vehicle adhering to council regulations.

4. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance: This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

5. Evidence of conduct: Evidence of conduct in previous employment concerned with the provision of services relating to Health or social care or Children or vulnerable adults.

6. Proof of identity: including a recent photograph.

7. Full Employment history.

This role is an exciting opportunity on the Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) for Gorton and Levenshulme based at the new Gorton Hub office. The role of Senior Social Worker is a vital role on the team and will work collaboratively with the Team Manager to ensure the smooth and effective running of the team.

The Senior Social Worker will work closely with the Team Manager, Social Workers and Social Care Assessors on the team to promote that positive outcomes are achieved for the citizens of Gorton and Levenshulme.

Effective communication skills and knowledge of relevant legislation are required for the role, as well as a solid appreciation of strength-based and person-centred practice.

The Gorton INT is a busy team based on the Eastern side of the central locality, covering a diverse range of citizens with varying strengths and needs. The team is settled, hard-working and friendly, with an established culture of supporting one another and striving to achieve the best outcomes for our citizens.

Being based in the Gorton Hub, we promote multi-disciplinary working and work closely with colleagues from a range of partner agencies. We are passionate to work for Manchester City Council and for the citizens of Manchester.

The Senior Social Worker role is a supervisory role and the role holder will provide professional support and guidance to the team as well as formal supervision to a number of team members. The Senior Social Worker is responsible for ensuring that necessary legal, policy and ethical imperatives are maintained in working with customers of the service.

The role holder will support the leadership of the Team Manager providing a consistent and effective service in complex individual and family situations, maintaining good working relationships within the team, with other Council services and with a range of external partners.

The role holder will be responsible for the safe delivery of social care functions, ensuring the effective discharge of statutory responsibilities and the provision of a high quality standard of service. The role holder will manage safeguarding risk effectively, working within a multi-agency environment to provide a professional social work service.

Key Responsibilities will include:

1. Providing professional supervision to qualified and unqualified staff.
2. Provide practice support and guidance to team members working in complex situations, promoting citizen wellbeing.
3. Supporting the effective management of the team, supporting the Team Manager to maintain a high level of performance.
4. Regular Duty Management, providing advice and guidance to the Duty workers.
5. Embedding a reflective working culture within the team including facilitating Communities of Practice reflective meetings.
6. Undertaking responsibility for managing specific aspects of practice and leadership in the absence of the Team Manager.
7. Support where necessary in the wider roles and performance of the team in respect of adult safeguarding, assessments and reviews.

About the Candidate

Essential requirements for the role:

1. Communication Skills: Is able to effectively transfer key and complex information to all levels of staff, adapting the style of communication as necessary and ensuring that this information is understood. Ability to advise others and deal with sensitive issues in difficult situations inside and outside area, negotiating riskier demands.
2. Planning and Organising Skills: Excellent time management skills, creating own work schedules, prioritising, preparing in advance and setting realistic timescales for own self and others. Has the ability to visualise a sequence of actions needed to achieve a specific goal and how to estimate the resources required.
3. Analytical Skills: Ability to absorb, understand and quickly assimilate complex information and compare information from a number of different sources. Ability to identify patterns and trends that may impact on decisions and propose realistic conclusions identifying the risks and any assumptions made.
4. Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills: Ability to formulate independently a range of options for new or unfamiliar situations and to select the appropriate course of action to produce a logical, practical and acceptable solution.
5. ICT Skills: Skills to use ICT systems to obtain and analyse data and present it effectively through a variety of ICT channels.
6. People Management Skills: Ability to lead, manage and motivate staff to high levels of performance in order to achieve change and maximise staff potential and contribution to the achievement of identified aims and objectives.

Essential Requirements:

1. Social Work Qualification
2. Registered with Social Work England
3. Experienced Social Worker in line with the Social Work Professional Capabilities Framework
4. Experienced Practice Educator/BIA/AMHP
5. Willing to consent to and apply for an enhanced (DBS) disclosure check
6. Willingness to travel to any location within the boundaries of the City of Manchester.

Desirable requirements that would be useful in this role:

Knowledge of Liquid Logic Social Care System and proficiency in using Microsoft Office functions.

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives.

Benefits we offer:

• Generous holiday allowance- Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service.
• A buzzing pension- You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave- Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options.
• Brilliant perks- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out.
• Learn and grow- We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive.
• A Good Employment Charter member- We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave- Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirements for the role.

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network, and Mental Health Staff Network.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best.