Senior Practitioner (Missing and Complex Safeguarding) in Manchester

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and families? Do you bring compassion, curiosity, collaboration, conversation, and courage to your practice? If so, Tameside is looking for you.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Senior Practitioner to support the Team Manager in the leadership, development, and delivery of our Complex Safeguarding Team, working with children and young people at risk of exploitation, contextual harm, and those who go missing from home. This is a key role within a dynamic multi-agency service, providing practice leadership, supervision, and support to social workers and Missing from Home Project Workers, ensuring effective safeguarding responses for some of our most vulnerable children.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with Greater Manchester Police, health, Youth Justice Service and wider safeguarding partners to coordinate interventions, share intelligence, and promote positive outcomes for children affected by exploitation and missing episodes.

• Support the Team Manager in the operational management and development of the Complex Safeguarding and Missing from Home Service.
• Provide supervision, guidance, and oversight to staff, including Missing from Home Project Workers.
• Lead and support practice relating to child exploitation, contextual safeguarding, and children who go missing from home.
• Chair and coordinate multi-agency meetings, including MFH and disruption meetings.
• Advise professionals on risk assessment, safety planning, disruption activity, and safeguarding interventions.
• Work alongside police and partner agencies to identify, assess, and respond to emerging risks and exploitation trends.
• Promote high-quality practice, information sharing, and effective multi-agency working.
• Support service development and contribute to improving outcomes for children and young people across the authority.

You will be a qualified Social Worker (Degree/DipSW or equivalent) with significant post-qualifying experience in safeguarding adolescents, exploitation, and complex/contextual harm. You will have experience of supervising staff and supporting practitioners to manage risk and achieve positive outcomes for children.

You will have:

• Sound knowledge of child exploitation, contextual safeguarding, and children who go missing from home.
• Experience of multi‑agency partnership working and influencing practice across agencies.
• The ability to make informed, timely decisions in complex safeguarding situations.
• Knowledge of current legislation, policy, and developments relating to adolescents and complex safeguarding.
• Strong communication, leadership, and organisational skills.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in shaping services for vulnerable children while working within a supportive and forward‑thinking team.

At Tameside, we believe in:

• Compassion understanding the lived experiences of children and families.
• Curiosity asking questions that lead to deeper insight and better outcomes for children.
• Collaboration working together across services to deliver joined‑up support.
• Conversation listening and engaging meaningfully with children, families and professionals.
• Courage leading with courage, making bold and compassionate decisions that put children first.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. This position is subject to Enhanced with Barred List Disclosure Procedures.