Experienced COMPASS Domestic Abuse Social Worker
SO3 (£39,862 - £45,091) plus essential car user allowance and reimbursement of Social Work England fees
37 Hours, Full Time
Permanent
Hybrid: Fred Perry House and homeworking 2 days per week minimum in the office.

Application Deadline: 26 June 2026, 11:59pm
Please be aware that we may close this vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Shortlisting Date: 1 July 2026
Interview Date: 7 July 2026
Interview Type: Face to face

Join us at Stockport Council MJ Local Authority of the Year 2025

Your Role

We’d love you to join our Stockport Family. We are looking for driven, dedicated and compassionate social workers who are committed to supporting some of our most important people our children and their families.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Social Worker to join our Domestic Abuse Team on a permanent basis. This is a small, specialist team, led by a dedicated Domestic Abuse Team Leader, working collaboratively across the system to strengthen responses where domestic abuse impacts on children and families.

The team works closely with multi agency partners including children’s social care, health, education, police and voluntary and community sector organisations, including IDVAs, to promote best practice and effective safeguarding. Alongside locality social work colleagues, the team provides specialist input to support assessment, planning and intervention with families.

A key part of the role is contributing to strategy discussions and Section 47 enquiries, providing expertise in risk assessment, safety planning and risk management. The team represents children’s social care in key forums such as daily risk meetings, MARAC and MAPPA, ensuring robust information sharing and coordinated multi agency responses.

In addition, the Domestic Abuse Team plays an active role in developing learning and training opportunities across the wider service and contributes to the delivery of specialist interventions, including the Caring Dads programme.

Here’s what one of the social workers have said about their experience the Domestic Abuse Team: -
‘We have a really lovely, supportive team which gives so many opportunities to work closely with families and bring about meaningful change. There are some amazing colleagues and managers who bring tonnes of knowledge and skills and it’s a very friendly ‘lets learn from each other’ atmosphere. I’ve worked here nearly 9 years and it really is a great team to be a part of! Sarah jane Mason

As a social worker in Stockport Family you will benefit from:

  • Our relationships with families and with each other being at the heart of everything we do. We have a model of restorative practice and relationships are the key to how we work together comprehensive restorative practice training is offered to all
  • Systemic social work practice to help bring about the change that families need to be safe and thriving access to systemic practice training and foundation year, including systemic supervision skills
  • Opportunities to become a Practice Educator and to develop your supervision skills in supporting ASYE social workers
  • Co-located, integrated working bringing social workers, health, and education services together so you can get the help you need quickly for families
  • High quality and regular reflective supervision, recognising we are humans first, professionals second
  • Specialist trauma-informed services to support you when you are working with issues such as high-risk domestic abuse, substance misuse or complex safeguarding
  • Access to Stockport Family clinical psychologists and therapeutic social workers, who can provide formulation to sensitively guide the work with children and families
  • Innovative and creative ways of working so that there are always opportunities for your personal development and to learn how to do things differently.
  • Supportive leadership who listen and respond to feedback
  • Creative direct work kit bag given to every social worker
  • Regular informal learning circles to keep your knowledge and skills up to date
  • Dedicated workforce development managers for every stage of your career
  • Genuine commitment to your Continuing Professional Development with regular opportunities across Stockport Family for short and long training courses tailored to your needs and interests; we are committed to your professional development. Many of our team leaders started their careers as social workers in Stockport, and we are committed to supporting you to grow your career with us.
  • Access to corporate leadership and supervision programmes, support, and coaching.


Support for social workers also includes regular check-ins with workforce development and colleagues from across Stockport Family and opportunities to attend meetings with senior leaders to think about our continued journey of learning and improvement to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and families in Stockport.

About You

In Stockport, we are driven by our values so we want social workers who are motivated by building relationships with children and families and to take an empowering approach to working with families.

You’ll have a minimum of two years’ experience in a social worker role.

To help us meet the needs of our children and families and to help them when they need it most, we need social workers just like you, people who are hard-working, passionate about making a difference, and wanting children to reach their full potential. You’ll also be a team player, so you’re able to share your own knowledge with others and continue to learn.

We know however, that this is a tough job and it’s a big ask. So to do it well, you need to be fully supported every step of the way. This is why we have an excellent package of benefits, including additional tailored support if you need it, all of which are detailed below.

Learning and development is a key part of our culture, at every stage. We know you’ll come with a host of skills and things to share, but we know you need to continue to learn so you can thrive. So we will support you to flourish and develop in your career.

We are looking for a social worker who is passionate about relationship-based social work, proud of your profession and able to reflect and think creatively about how you can build relationships to make a difference with children and families.

You will have an interest and desire to work with and improve the lives of children living with or affected by domestic abuse. Working with domestic abuse victims and survivors and working with perpetrators of domestic abuse.

You will be committed to your professional development, take up the vast amount of learning opportunities on offer and be excited about being a part of Stockport Family.

In Stockport Family we value diversity and the unique perspectives that each of us bring and are committed to being an inclusive and aspirational place to work for all colleagues.

About Us

In Stockport, our vision is for all children to have the best start in life. We co-designed an outcomes framework that we are committed to as our vision for supporting children and families in Stockport which is:-

  • I feel safe
  • I feel part of my local community
  • I enjoy good health and wellbeing
  • I am confident and able to reach my goals
  • I am happy and have people I can trust
  • The people that love and care for me are enabled to do this
  • My voice is heard and acted upon


We have a model of restorative practice which means relationships are central to everything we do, not just with our families but with our colleagues too. We care about our use of language too, and we are very ambitious for the families we work with.

We believe that change is possible through the building of strong relationships where there is both high support, and where necessary, high challenge. All colleagues are offered training to help us develop this restorative approach.

To support our social workers with this, we have teams with experienced leaders, and a dedicated social work workforce development team, providing reflective and clinical supervision and we also offer innovative support services for families, which have been praised by the DFE including New Beginnings and Comma.

Our commitment to our staff

  • Direct access to a team leader and a senior practitioner on the team.
  • We have a strong workforce development programme we provide an introduction to restorative practice to set the foundation, and a host of other training including working with SEND needs.
  • For our ASYE’s we have a supportive programme, with a year-long series of practice development sessions.
  • We encourage continual CPD and allow for protected time for you to do this. All our social workers are offered a yearly professional development review (PDR) to see what’s next in your career.
  • We provide a solid induction into social work for our social workers, with a gradual increase in caseload and complexity of work.
  • We offer high quality reflective supervision on a monthly basis from your line manager - all of our team leaders are trained in reflective and systemic supervision. There are opportunities for group and reflective supervision delivered by senior practitioners too. ASYE’s will have a reflective mentor to offer additional space to think and learn outside of your team.
  • As our services are integrated, so there’s a wealth of expert advice all around you. We provide opportunities to seek specialist advice and consultation from various services such as our IROs, complex safeguarding, and our disability and short breaks team.
  • We offer a full corporate induction too where you can meet other professionals across the council - our senior leadership also maintain a relationship with our new starters, to ensure that they are settling in well.

What can we offer you?

  • Modern and pleasant offices newly refurbished end of 2022, with the latest technology so you can work hybrid, and located in the town centre
  • Reimbursement of your Social Work England regulator fees
  • Full subscription to Research in Practice to access the latest research publications
  • Discounted multi-storey parking on-site
  • Essential Car User Allowance from £846 per annum in addition to your salary
  • Annual ‘Ambitious Stockport’ Awards to recognise colleagues who live our values every day in their professional lives
  • For more experienced social workers, the opportunity to be a Practice Educator and mentor a student, which you receive a payment for

Why Stockport?

As a local authority, Stockport offers a supportive and vibrant working environment our teams are dedicated to delivering the very best outcomes for our children and families and we work together with our multi-agency partners in a positive and upbeat way.

At Stockport Council we are one ambitious team on a mission to create opportunities for everyone who lives, works and spends time in the borough. Working at Stockport Council means contributing to one of the most thriving towns in the North. We’re keen to recruit people with the right values and behaviours that can help us ensure our workplace values are at the heart of everything we do.

We are proud to be recognised under the Good Employment Charter as an organisation committed to the wellbeing of our colleagues. As members of the charter, we have been recognised as a great place to work for all colleagues and pledge to pay the real living wage, engage staff in key decisions and endorse fair and flexible working conditions.

If you would like to find out more about the role please contact;-
Jemma Parish at jemma.parish@stockport.gov.uk or Leanne Baines at leanne.baines@stockport.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role

The successful applicant’s appointment will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances including a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Stockport Council holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not currently qualify.

Please note that we have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers and ex-military personnel. As part of the Guaranteed Assessment Scheme you will therefore be guaranteed to be shortlisted for Assessment if you meet both the criteria for the scheme and the essential job role criteria.

Find out if you meet the criteria here: https://www.greater.jobs/our-guaranteed-assessment-scheme


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Stockport Council is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce culture - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to join our workforce.

We want our employees to have a good work life balance and in many job roles we can offer a range of flexible/hybrid working arrangements. We also have inclusive employment policies and staff engagement forums to support our diverse workforce. We will listen to, learn from, and develop our workforce.

Supporting Documents

Job Profile

Ready to apply?

Location

Edward Street, , Stockport, SK1 3XE, United Kingdom

Job ID

12176

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

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Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter

Find out more

Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

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Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

Find out more

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

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Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

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Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards

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Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards

Find out more

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

Stay Safe When Applying

To protect yourself from recruitment scams, please only apply for roles through the official greater.jobs website and associated recruitment systems. We will never ask for your personal information outside of this process.

Employee Benefits

Annual Leave

A generous annual leave allowance, up to 30 days annual leave dependent on grade and length of service, plus bank holidays with the option to purchase additional annual leave

Work Life Balance

Work and personal life balance. Many jobs include part time working, flexi-time and homeworking

Employee engagement

Employee engagement networks to support colleagues and create opportunities to feed into both workforce and borough strategies

Volunteering

Support for volunteering by allowing up to 4 hours per month (pro rata) to carry out any duties associated with this

Learning and Development

A suite of learning and development opportunities, from important data protection training to all level apprenticeships

Discounts

A huge range of discounts via an easy to use portal, including: Gym memberships, restaurants, events, travel, cycle to work scheme, home electronics and more.

Wellbeing

Access to an employee support hotline, available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

Pension Scheme

Option to join the Local Government Pension Scheme and give your pension a boost by enrolling into a salary sacrifice scheme.

Our Recruitment Journey

Seen a job you’re interested in but want to understand more about our recruitment process?

  • Application stage

    When you have seen a job, you are interested in you can submit your application online by clicking ‘Apply Now’, some vacancies will ask you to complete a supporting statement where you should address the About You section of the Job Profile for the role. Other vacancies will ask you to upload a CV.

  • Shortlisting

    In keeping with our commitment to inclusion, recruiting managers take an anonymised approach to recruiting when shortlisting your application form. They will use the supporting information section of your application and your work history to assess your suitability for the job. You'll be notified of the outcome of your application form via email and if successful you'll be invited to book an interview slot.

  • Interviews

    When preparing for the interview, you should familiarise yourself with the job profile. The About You section of the job profile contains the criteria that will be assessed at interview stage. You can prepare for interview by ensuring that you have clear examples relating to how you have met these criteria. If you require any reasonable adjustments because of a disability under the Equality Act, to assist you during the selection process we would be pleased to discuss them with you on recruitment@stockport.gov.uk

  • Offer stage and pre-employment checks

    Offer stage and pre-employment checks If you're offered the job after interviewing, you'll be sent a conditional offer detailing your new role. Along with the conditional contract and offer letter, our team will be in touch regarding your pre-employment checks.

    The pre-employment checks that you will need to undertake will depend on the role that you've applied for. These checks may include:

    • right to work in the UK

    • Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

    The information provided will be dealt with in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice

    • gaps in employment

    • reference checks. We will request references prior to issuing your conditional contract

    • pre-employment health declaration

    • qualification checks