Children's Social Work Team Manager

Old Moat; Manchester; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Manchester is seeking a Team Manager to lead social work teams, ensuring effective service delivery for children and families. The ideal candidate will hold a recognised social work qualification, be registered with Social Work England, and have management experience in a social work setting. Benefits include a competitive salary and generous holiday allowance.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Local government pension scheme

Enhanced parental and carers leave

Access to discounts on various services

Comprehensive onboarding and training opportunities

Paid volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Must hold a recognised social work qualification.
• Must be registered with Social Work England.
• Must hold a current, valid Enhanced DBS check.
• Must hold a valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a social work team to ensure effective service delivery.
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to enhance service integration.

Skills

Social work qualification

Management experience

Driving licence

DBS clearance

Education

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

About The Role

Grade 9: £47,181 - £51,356 (bar at £50,269) per annum

Working Hours: 35 Hours per week

Contract Type: Full time / Permanent

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

Closing Date: 17 November 2025

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: In Person (Face to Face)

This role is subject to:

• 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.
• 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 for an 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.

We have opportunities for Team Manager roles in the South Court and Locality Service. These roles will lead and manage a social work team, ensuring the service provided is effective and delivers positive outcomes for children and their families, and ensuring that the social workers you have responsibility for meet the statutory requirements set through legislation, national and regional guidance in respect of children in need, child protection, looked after children, and care leavers.

The role holder will effectively lead, manage, and motivate a team of professional practitioners to develop a skilled and confident workforce which meets the needs of the service and Manchester residents.

The role holder will work in collaboration with partners and key stakeholders to develop effective partnerships and greater coordinated working with other services and organisations, to ensure a positive contribution to the development and delivery of care and support priorities for the city.

For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring managers, Joanne Brown ([e-mail]) and Anthony Coward ([e-mail]) to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

About the Candidate

Essential Requirements for the Role:

• Must hold a recognised social work qualification.
• Must be registered with Social Work England.
• Must hold a current, valid Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
• Must hold a valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work.

Desirable Requirements That Would Be Useful in This Role:

• Previous experience of managing social work teams.

About Us

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:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance- Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension- You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave- Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow- We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member- We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognise three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave- Give back to the community with three days pro‑rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

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

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text‑to‑speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirement for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long‑term condition
• If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the Supporting Statement section of your application.

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability‑friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [e-mail].

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre‑employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work – You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References – We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications – Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check – A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Driving Licence – If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

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.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

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