Advanced Practitioner (Fostering)

Old Moat; Manchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading local government authority in Manchester is seeking two Senior Social Workers for their Fostering Service. The role involves supporting kinship families, conducting assessments, and collaborating with various teams to ensure children's safety and well-being. Candidates must have a Social Work qualification and be able to drive. The position offers a full-time permanent contract with additional payments for car users.

Benefits

Essential car user allowance

Market rate supplement

Qualifications

• Must hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for work.
• DBS clearance required for the role.

Responsibilities

• Lead and co-work on complex cases and support colleagues’ development.
• Undertake effective direct work with children and kinship families.
• Collaborate with legal departments and Courts for assessments.

Skills

Social Work

Leadership

Collaboration

Assessment

Education

Social Work Qualification

Job description

About The Role

Number of Vacancies: 2

Working Hours: 35 Hours per week

Contract Type: Full time Permanent

Additional Payments: Essential car user allowance, £5,000 market rate supplement

Closing Date: 28 May 2025

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: In Person (Face to Face)

We have 2 Senior Social Work Posts available in the Fostering Service.

We are looking for workers for our Kinship Hub Teams. Our Kinship Hub in Manchester is thriving and we need workers to lead on supporting and developing the Hub in line with national and local Kinship Reforms. The role involves assessing and working with Kinship Carers, supporting stability for families, and supporting the team to ensure we deliver the best service to our children and kinship families.

This role is subject to:

• 2 References - where possible, we require 3 years' employment history.
• Social Work Qualification and registration with SWE.
• Essential Car Documentation - This post is a designated Essential Car User. You must hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for 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). Appointees will need to apply for an Enhanced DBS check. Information will be handled confidentially and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders available upon request.

About The Candidate

We’re looking for individuals who can provide effective, quality, professional social work to children and their kinship families, with the aim of improving lives. You will lead and co-work on complex cases and support your colleagues’ development within the team.

In your role as an Advanced Practitioner, you will:

• Find ways to improve the service and help your team support Manchester's children to be safe and thrive
• Undertake effective direct work with children and kinship families
• Role model professional ethics
• Understand the law and family justice system, undertaking ongoing research
• Collaborate with children’s teams, legal departments, and the Courts to ensure high-quality assessments are completed within required timeframes for children
• Understand models of care and support, supervising kinship carers to care for Manchester's children
• Undertake assessments and reviews, demonstrating effective analysis, decision-making, planning, and review
• Case hold and support team members with complex assessments and direct work with families
• Support Social Work Students
• Understand the roles of the child, family, and child development
• Role model the 'Our Manchester' behaviours

If you would like more information about the role or have any questions, please contact Billie Walbank at [e-mail]

About Us

We’re the local government authority for Manchester, with teams across the city helping to make this a great place to live. We’re proud to do local government differently, in a city known for diversity, creativity, culture, and passion.

Joining us means becoming part of a team of over 7,000 staff working to make Manchester’s ambitions a reality. Whatever your role, you’ll support residents and communities to thrive and help build a fairer Manchester.

Our five ‘behaviours’ — listening, working together, valuing differences, owning initiatives, and showing pride — underpin our culture and way of working.

A career with us allows you to be yourself, thrive, and develop your talents and ambitions.

Creating an inclusive team at Manchester City Council

We aim to create a fair and diverse workplace. For more info on the role, our culture, flexible arrangements, or adjustments, contact [e-mail]. If invited to interview, we will ask about any adjustments needed to support your best performance.

For alternative formats of the job details, such as large print or audio, email [e-mail] or call 0161 227 3373.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

We offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups, including armed forces members, those who have been in care, or individuals with disabilities or health conditions, provided they meet the minimum role requirements.

Accessibility

As a Disability Confident Employer, we support employees with health conditions or disabilities through accessible workplaces and adjustments, including aids and equipment. Our flexible policies help employees perform and thrive.

Find tips on how to submit the best application here.

When you join us

We support everyone to be themselves at work. We will provide aids, adaptations, or equipment needed for your role, and will consider redesigning tasks if necessary.

Other relevant information

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

Who we are - Manchester City Council

Privacy Notice