Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time Additional Payments: Essential Car User Allowance Closing Date: 20 March 2026 Closing time: 11.59pm Interview Method: Face to Face This Role is Subject to: Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. 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- 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 foran Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) The Senior Social Worker in the Sensory Team provides professional leadership in delivering high‑quality, person‑centred support to adults with vision and hearing loss across Manchester, including people who are deafblind. The role ensures services are inclusive, well‑coordinated and responsive to complex needs, while supporting the team to meet safeguarding policies and professional standards. Working with individuals, carers and families, the Senior Social Worker promotes independence, safety and wellbeing through a strengths‑based, person‑centred approach. The role includes completing complex assessments, supporting care planning and interventions, and enabling people to live safely and independently while maintaining choice and control. As a senior practitioner, the post holder provides guidance and support to colleagues, contributes to quality assurance and practice development, and plays a key role in safeguarding, risk management and protection from abuse in line with legislation and professional standards. The role involves close partnership working across adult social care, health, housing, and voluntary and community organisations to ensure joined‑up support for people with sensory loss. If you share Manchester’s ambition to deliver high‑quality services and empower people with sensory loss to live safely, independently and with dignity, we would welcome your application. Making an Impact in the Service This role is central to driving high‑quality practice and positive outcomes for adults with sensory loss across Manchester. As a Senior Social Worker, you will lead and influence safeguarding practice, support robust and lawful Mental Capacity Act decision‑making, and provide professional oversight in complex cases. You will play a key role in chairing and contributing to multi‑disciplinary meetings, ensuring effective collaboration, shared accountability and timely decision‑making. If successful, you will join a team of dedicated professionals committed to promoting independence, advocating for people’s views, wishes and choices, and ensuring support is shaped around their personal, agreed outcomes while maintaining safety, dignity and wellbeing. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the hiring manager, Stephen Nicholas, Sensory Team Manager, on 07773 572623, or Sharon Bristow, Complex Needs Service Manager, on 07773 629243. Alternatively, you can email stephen.nicholas@manchester.gov.uk or sharron.bristow@manchester.gov.uk to arrange a convenient time to discuss the post. We are seeking a positive, experienced and outcome‑focused Senior Social Worker with strong professional judgement and a commitment to high‑quality, person‑centred practice. You will be confident in leading complex work, including safeguarding and multi‑disciplinary decision‑making, and committed to developing others through supervision, mentoring and professional support. Essential Requirements We would love to hear from you if you have experience of: Undertaking complex assessments and care planning using a strengths‑based, person‑centred approach. Leading and chairing safeguarding enquiries and multi‑disciplinary (MDT) meetings. Applying the Mental Capacity Act, including complex capacity assessments and best‑interest decision‑making. Managing risk and promoting protection from abuse in line with legislation, policy and professional standards. Providing professional leadership, guidance and reflective supervision to colleagues. Supporting and mentoring ASYE social workers and contributing to the development of social work students, including practice learning and professional development. Working collaboratively with partner agencies, including health, housing and voluntary sector organisations. Maintaining high‑quality, defensible recording and clear professional communication. You must be a registered Social Worker with Social Work England and meet the generic skills and technical requirements outlined in the role profile. Desirable Requirements The following experience would be beneficial but is not essential: Experience working with adults with vision loss, hearing loss or dual sensory impairment Experience within a specialist or complex needs service Experience chairing complex MDT meetings across agencies Practice educator experience or willingness to work towards a relevant qualification Experience working with third‑party or voluntary sector organisations Familiarity with local authority systems and Microsoft Office applications We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone. Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours: Benefits we offer 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. Support During the Process Guaranteed Assessment Scheme We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below: When You Join Us We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering: For more information about the role or any adjustments, email jobs@manchester.gov.uk. 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. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role. Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year. Employment could affect your benefits, find out more here. Turn2us Benefits Calculator.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Location
, , Manchester, , United Kingdom
Job ID
7524
Supporting You Through Every Step of Your Journey
We want every candidate to feel welcomed, informed and confident when applying for a role with us.
This section brings together everything you need to succeed - from guidance on writing an authentic application to understanding how to use AI responsibly.
You’ll also find information about our Greater Manchester commitments, including our inclusive employment schemes and standards, as well as tools to help you explore your potential pay, benefits and entitlements. We’re here to ensure you have the support you need at every stage.
Working for a local authority in Greater Manchester
Local authorities across Greater Manchester are proud to be part of a shared commitment to widening access to employment and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
These commitments span a number of long‑standing schemes and initiatives designed to open doors, remove barriers and ensure all applicants feel valued and respected throughout their employment journey.
Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment
Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment
Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards
Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards
Your Pay, Your Benefits, Your Future
Explore easy‑to‑use tools that help you understand your take‑home pay and how different employment situations may affect the financial support available to you and your household.
Calculate Your Take‑Home Pay
Use this salary calculator to estimate your net pay after tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions.
Estimate your Income Tax for the current year (Gov.uk)
Check Your Benefits Entitlement
See how changes in employment, hours or salary may affect your benefits and household income.
Turn2us Benefits Calculator
Applying Authentically With AI: Our Greater Manchester Approach
Across Greater Manchester’s local authorities, we want to hear your genuine experiences, skills and motivations, expressed in your own words.
To keep our recruitment process fair and inclusive, please complete your application personally and follow the instructions carefully. AI can be used to support you - for example, to help structure your answers or as a reasonable adjustment - but your application should still reflect your authentic voice.
Applications that depend too heavily on AI‑generated content may not progress to shortlisting.
This guidance outlines acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI, along with suggestions for using it in a way that supports you while keeping your application true to you.
What Is AI and How Do We Use It Across Greater Manchester?
AI refers to technology that can create or refine content, such as text, ideas, summaries, or planning. It can help improve productivity, problem-solving, and creativity.
We’re open to using innovative digital tools where they can help us work smarter and deliver better services for our residents. However, every use of AI is carefully considered to make sure it is ethical, responsible, and aligned with public-sector values.
When it comes to recruitment, we take a human-centred approach.
This means:
A trained hiring manager reads every application
Shortlisting is based on objective criteria required for the job
Interviews are conducted in person or via teams by the hiring manager for the role
All hiring decisions are made by hiring managers, not algorithms
AI does not make decisions in our recruitment process and our managers are being upskilled to spot AI in applications, particularly when this might have been used in a way that doesn’t feel genuine. If something in an application raises a question or concern, we will test this out with assessments or at the interview stage to confirm authenticity.
Our aim isn’t to catch anyone out but to make sure we’re getting to know the real you, giving every candidate a fair chance and finding the right person for the role.
Using AI in Your Application
When it comes to job applications, what matters most to us is you. We want to see your personality, your experience, and what excites you about joining our team.
We recognise that AI can be a helpful tool to support accessibility during the application process. If you choose to use AI for support, please read the instructions carefully and make sure your application is written in your own words, reflecting your genuine skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.
We’re looking forward to hearing your story.
How to use AI Effectively and Responsibly
Your application is your chance to show us:
Who you are
What you can bring
The values you hold
Why you want to make a difference
AI can help you organise your thoughts or improve clarity but it cannot express your unique voice, experiences, or motivations.
AI is most helpful when used to:
Help you structure the information you are providing to evidence the criteria
Give examples of how to use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Proof-read to highlight grammar or spelling errors
Provide inspiration if you're finding it difficult to find the right words to explain something
But remember: your honesty, lived experience, and motivations are irreplaceable.
Do’s and Don’ts for Using AI in the Recruitment Process
Do:
Use AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement
Ask AI to help tidy up your writing or clarify structure
Use it to brainstorm examples, then rewrite them in your own voice
Reflect on AI suggestions and adapt them to match your experience
Use AI to help with research, but express your understanding yourself
Don’t:
Copy and paste AI-generated content directly into your application
Let AI exaggerate or invent experience you do not have
Rely on generic statements that don’t reflect the specific role requirements
Remove your individuality, we want to hear your voice
