Sensory Social Worker in Manchester

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Working Style: Hybrid

Additional Payments: Essential Car User Allowance

Closing Date: 11 June 2026

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: Face to Face

This Role is Subject to 2 References (where possible we require 3 years' history)

Qualification: Social Work Qualification and registration with Social Work England

Medical Clearance: Pre-placement health assessment (PPHA)

Essential Car Documentation: Must hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work. Receive Essential Car User Allowance.

DBS clearance: Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check required; subject to Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended 2013).

Team & Role

The Sensory Team is based at the Hulme District Office and forms part of Manchester Local Care Organisation. The team operates city‑wide, providing specialist assessment, training and support to citizens with vision loss, hearing loss, or dual sensory loss. The Sensory Social Worker will specialise in working with adults whose primary identified need is sensory loss. This includes citizens who are profoundly Deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL) as their preferred method of communication, Deafblind citizens with combined sensory loss who require visual frame or hands‑on communication, and citizens who are registered Sight Impaired (SI) or Severely Sight Impaired (SSI).

The successful candidate must hold a recognised and valid social work qualification. Ideally, they will have British Sign Language (BSL) skills at Level 2 or above or demonstrate a commitment and willingness to undertake this training. The post holder must also have a strong understanding of the Deaf community and visual impairment, and the complex impact of deafness and blindness on a citizen’s independence, health, and overall wellbeing.

Working as part of a specialist sensory team, the post holder will collaborate closely with colleagues across the City Council, alongside partner agencies and key stakeholders, to effectively assess, plan, and deliver person‑centred support and interventions for citizens with a sensory impairment.

Responsibilities

• Support citizens to plan, organise and co‑produce their care and support, taking into account communication needs and the complexities associated with sensory loss.
• Monitor, review and evaluate support plans to ensure outcomes are achieved.
• Recognise and assess risk and coordinate safeguarding enquiries, leading or co‑working on investigations.
• Develop and implement protection plans to safeguard adults with sensory impairments from harm, abuse or exploitation.
• Engage with partner agencies and stakeholders to provide specialist assessment, training and support.
• Provide direct support to citizens and families according to statutory responsibilities and local/national policies, ensuring positive outcomes.
• Supervise and develop students and trainees, contributing to staff development.

Key Role Accountabilities

• Support citizens who are profoundly deaf and effectively communicate using the citizen's preferred method of communication.
• Support citizens with visual impairment or combined sensory impairment, recognising complexities of being visually impaired.
• Identify social care needs of deaf, visually impaired, and deaf‑blind individuals and carers to determine eligibility of needs within the Care Act.
• Support citizens to plan, organise and co‑produce support; monitor, review and evaluate the support provided.
• Ensure safeguarding is a principle; recognise and identify risks.
• Coordinate and lead or co‑work on investigating allegations of abuse and protect vulnerable adults from harm and exploitation; coordinate a multi‑agency safeguarding investigation and preventative strategies.
• Contribute to the development of agreed protection plans for vulnerable adults and intervene as deemed necessary to promote safety and protection.
• Provide advice, support or work in partnership with other teams where the primary need is not their sensory loss but is a significant factor in their lives.
• Complete carers assessments for persons with a sensory impairment, recognising the impact on independence, health and wellbeing, and identifying the impact on the caring role.
• Work in partnership with the Directorate for Adults Transition team to identify young persons approaching 18 and carry out a specialist assessment addressing their sensory needs.
• Develop and manage positive relationships with citizens and families, supporting access to improved future opportunities.
• Maintain accurate records in accordance with statutory targets and City Council, local, and national policy to evidence achievement of improved outcomes.
• Manage assigned resources, ensuring continuous improvement in service delivery; staff management duties may include direct line or matrix management.
• Commit to continuous self‑development and service improvement.
• Ensure diversity is positively valued, promoting equal access and treatment in employment, service delivery, and communications.

Qualifications

• Recognised and valid social work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
• British Sign Language (BSL) level 2 or above or commitment to undertake training.
• Strong knowledge of Deaf community and visual impairment, including impact on independence, health, and wellbeing.
• Experience or insight into recognizing the complexity and challenges of being deaf or visually impaired.

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance – up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days after five years.
• Purchase up to two additional weeks during the annual leave purchase period.
• A buzzing pension – enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme with options to top up and life cover equal to three times salary.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave – ample time to bond with newborn or support family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks – discounts on shops, holidays, MCR+ benefits, phone contracts, cycle to work, flu jabs, eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow – diverse learning opportunities, workshops, training, apprenticeships, and qualifications starting with a comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member – secure, flexible work with fair pay review, and health and wellbeing support.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave – paid volunteering leave proportionate to hours.