Social Work Trainee

Grade: F scp 17 £31,022 -scp 23 £34,434 plus Essential Car User Allowance up to £963pa or Grade G scp 23 £34,434- scp 27 £38,220 plus Essential Car User Allowance up to £963pa
Contract: Permanent
Essential Requirement: Full Driving Licence
Essential Qualification: A relevant 2:2 degree or above

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.

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The Role
A development opportunity has become available for a Social Work Trainee to join one of our Adult Social Work Teams, supporting adults aged 18 and over through to end-of-life. This is a varied and dynamic role involving a wide range of responsibilities.

As a Social Work Trainee, you will contribute to and support the completion of Care Act assessments, using a strengths and assetsbased approach to develop effective support plans that consider available resources, including universal and voluntary sector services.

You will also be involved in identifying and managing risk, undertaking Carers' assessments, and completing Mental Capacity Act and Best Interest work.

The role includes preparing for and participating in decisionmaking forums and multidisciplinary meetings, supporting a busy duty service, taking referrals, and, under supervision, offering advice and guidance to members of the public and other professionals.

All duties must be carried out in line with relevant legislation, policies, procedures, and best practice standards.

The apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, runs for 18 months, and is due to start at the end of September 2026. We also require trainees to be in post for at least three months beforehand so they can settle into a social work team before beginning their studies.

About You
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated graduate with a genuine passion for supporting adults in Bolton. The successful candidate will demonstrate an understanding of people’s needs and aspirations and work collaboratively with them to improve their quality of life.

You must have a minimum of two years’ experience in social care and a degree at 2:2 or above in a related subject area such as health and social care, psychology, sociology, criminology, childhood studies, law, social policy, or a similar field.

You will be able to build and maintain positive relationships with individuals, carers, colleagues, managers, and a range of internal and external partners and organisations. You will be confident participating in multidisciplinary work and contributing to shared decisionmaking.
The role also requires someone who can remain focused, organised, and motivated during periods of remote working.

You must be committed to a comprehensive training and development programme aimed at supporting you to become a confident, fully qualified Social Worker within two years. This includes opportunities to work in two different adult social work teams experiencing ongoing practice experience and fully funded participation in an 18month Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work through the Social Work (SW) Apprenticeship Programme.

Please note: This post is directly linked to successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. If you withdraw from, or are unable to continue on, the university teaching programme, your employment in this role will end.

You will apply your learning directly in practice, supported by your Line Manager and through additional reflective supervision from a Social Work mentor.
Upon successful completion of the SW Apprenticeship, you will register with Social Work England and continue your career with Bolton Council as a Newly Qualified Social Worker, undertaking the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).

About Us
This is your opportunity to join us at an exciting time as we have strong ambitions for the borough.

Bolton is a great place to work. We are a welcoming organisation that wants to contribute to a place where people feel active, connected and prosperous. We are passionate about improving the outcomes and experience of Bolton people. We want Bolton to be a vibrant place built on strong cohesive communities, successful businesses and healthy, engaged residents.

As an employer we want to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment, by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits, including discounts and exclusive gym membership prices and salary sacrifice schemes. In addition, we offer a generous annual leave allowance, flexible work opportunities, access to a Pension Scheme, as well as a range of employee wellbeing and support services.

Our Values are really important to us, read all about them below, along with all our great staff benefits, the job description/person specification for the role and the important legal bits, and our Top Tips too.

Ready to apply? Then please click Apply and explain how you meet the points on the person specification.

Within Greater Manchester, local authorities have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers, carers, and ex-military personnel. Please see greater.jobs for further information before you apply.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An Enhanced DBS with check of relevant barred list is therefore required for this post.

This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English as per the person specification.

This organisation has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. That means we will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester local authority or NHS organisation that has signed the commitment, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority, giving you access to our service-related benefits. Please see the home page of greater.jobs for more information.

For more information about working for Bolton Council, please see greater.jobs; for advice and support with your application, contact recruitment@bolton.gov.uk