Leaving care Next Step Pathway Advisor

Salary Grade 3B starting salary (£36,363) to 4A (£46,142) (Salary Grade is dependent on experience)

1 x full time (36 hours)

About us

Next Step Team

The Next Step has been rated by OFSTED as ‘Outstanding’ and prides itself upon favourable outcomes for care leavers in education, employment and training (71% August 2025) and contact with all our service users under 21 years of age (100% August 2025).

You will formulate young people’s pathway plans which will help them meet their full potential and ensure the plan meets the identified needs of the young person and facilitate the effective participation of young people, carers and other professionals in the review system.

The post holder will have a Social Work qualification, with relative experience for the post, be able to display and promote positive practice whilst demonstrating enthusiasm and passion for protecting children and young people across the city.

At Next Step we work with children in care and care leavers aged 16 - 25 years.

We currently have an exciting vacancy within our team to enable us to continue to build on our success and also bring new experience, knowledge and ideas into the team.

You will effectively manage a limited caseload of complex cases in accordance with statutory responsibilities. These will include child protection, cared for children, Public Law Outline and court proceedings cases. You will deploy these responsibilities in accordance with national and local policies and procedures to secure positive outcomes for children.

There will also be an expectation that you will contribute to both group and individual reflective supervision

About You

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who have good interpersonal and communication skills to undertake work with care leavers, assisting them in planning their future goals and aspirations.

Your style and approach will reflect our values: you will be passionate about what you do always striving to improve things; valuing and respecting others’ contribution, you will work together to deliver a better service; you will take pride in always getting things right first time and learn from when things do go wrong; you will enjoy taking personal responsibility to resolve issues and change what you do and how you do it to make a difference.

About the Role

You will be part of a larger team and will work alongside young people, particularly in the areas of budgeting, accommodation, education and employment. The post holder will have a caseload of aged 16 plus care leavers and be expected to participate in duty activities.

This is a qualified post but there is an expectation that the successful applicant will have significant experience of working with vulnerable young people.

In return we can offer:

A well-motivated and energetic team backed up by a dedicated Administrative Team
Solid Management Support
Full induction Programme
Agreed programme of Supervision
Personal Development Plan
Not to mention the satisfaction you'll gain from making a real difference to the lives of young people at the formative stage.

Please attach a CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the ‘what we need from you’ in the attached role profile, outlining the reasons why you would like to apply for this position and highlighting any relevant experience that you have.

Please contact Emma.w.parkinson@salford.gov.uk if you have any questions or call 0161 607 1888

This role is crucial in supporting our journey to the implementation of the Family partnership model of practice, and to continue to improve the outcomes for children and families in Salford. You will need to be passionate about working with children and young people, have a practice base with strengths in relational and systemic practice, and knowledge of the signs of safety risk assessment model approach.

Please be aware that this post is subject to a Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If you have lived or worked abroad for 3 months or more in the last 5 years or 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years whilst aged 18 or over, please refer to the link below for details for how to obtain your Certificates of Good Character. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants

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