Complex Safeguarding Social Worker in Manchester

Working Hours: 35 Hours per week

Contract Type: Full time / Permanent

Additional Payments: Essential Car user allowance

Closing Date: 11 August 2026

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: Face to Face

This post is subject to:

• 2 References: where possible we require 3 years' history.
• Social Work Qualification and registered with Social Work England
• Medical Clearance: Pre-placement health assessment (PPHA)
• 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
• 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.
• Police Vetting: You will be required to undertake a Greater Manchester Police vetting process
• Completed Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)

Are you interested in working with children experiencing or vulnerable to exploitation in our Complex Safeguarding Team? The recent 'Outstanding' Ofsted Inspection has recognised the work completed in Complex Safeguarding as 'Exemplary'. Could you support us to continue offering children who have experienced or vulnerable to exploitation, with the 'compassion and care' recognised and what we strive for our children.

We are looking for skilled and motivated social workers to join our multi-agency Complex Safeguarding Hub, alongside our police, health, and partners. This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative service and play a key role in safeguarding and working with young people at risk of exploitation across the city of Manchester, including carrying out assessments and delivering bespoke interventions to reduce harm and raise aspirations and achieve great outcomes.

The Hub works with young people who are at risk from child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation, urban street groups, and serious youth violence. We have a strong focus on building trusted relationships and a trauma-informed approach with young people alongside the disruption of perpetrators. You will work closely with colleagues from GMP and Health and other partners to deliver the best possible response to those at risk of exploitation.

A key part of the role is to work with colleagues in social work teams across the city to support and advise on exploitation issues and to develop and sustain strong working relationships with a range of partners. The team focuses on the reasons behind the child’s presenting behaviours to identify their needs, access the right support, at the right time, from the right service, whilst addressing safeguarding needs.

We are looking for individuals with a passion for working with adolescents, who have excellent communication skills and a sound understanding of social work and exploitation and who can be creative and innovative in their work.

Essential requirements for the role:

• Social Work Qualification and registered with Social Work England
• Driving Licence and access to a car
• Previous Social Work experience and completion of ASYE
• Experience of completing assessments, detailed plans, and producing and delivering training/Supervision to a wide range of professionals
• Working in a multi-agency setting and developing positive and meaningful relationships with colleagues within Education, health, Police and wider organisations supporting children
• Good IT skills and ability to use Microsoft systems and navigate recording systems.
• Undertake effective direct work with children and families and ability to build trusted relationships with teenagers
• Understand factors that impact children including abuse, neglect, and extra-familial Harm
• Deliver performance management and service improvement.
• Understand the law and the family justice system undertaking ongoing research

Desirable requirements that would be useful in this role:

• Experience and knowledge of how to support children and young people who have been or at risk of exploitation, experiencing risks outside of the home, and/or serious violence.
• Experience of working in education, knowledge of alternative provisions, and understanding of challenges that impact children within schools.

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, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+.
• 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. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

What we will need from you if you’re successful: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.

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. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment.