Senior Social Worker Mental Health

Old Moat; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave up to 31 days

Two extra weeks leave

Volunteering leave

35-hour week

Pension scheme

Parental and carers leave

Employee discounts

Good Employment Charter

Job summary

Manchester City Council is recruiting for the Adult Early Support Team (AEST) to deliver early support and prevention for adults in Manchester. The role focuses on mental health social work, safeguarding, and coordinated multi-agency care to promote independence and wellbeing.

Applicants should hold Social Work registration in England and be prepared for enhanced DBS checks. The position operates as a hybrid role, with a focus on early intervention and collaborative practice.

Qualifications

• Mental Health Practice - provide specialist mental health social work support through assessment, intervention, care coordination, and person-centred planning to promote wellbeing and independence.
• Safeguarding and risk management using legislation and professional judgement to protect vulnerable adults.
• Early intervention to deliver timely, strengths-based support and prevent escalation of needs.
• Partnership working with multi-agency partners to coordinate care for Manchester residents.
• Practice leadership including mentoring and specialist advice to promote high-quality practice.
• Quality, improvement, and service development to ensure inclusive service delivery.

Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will demonstrate: Mental Health Practice, safeguarding, risk management, early intervention, partnership working, leadership, and quality improvement.

Skills

Mental Health

Safeguarding

Early Intervention

Partnership Work

Practice Leadership

Quality & Improvement

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

About The Role

Working Hours: 2 x35 Hours Per Week
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Style: Hybrid
Additional Payments: CasualCar User Allowance
Closing Date: 11.59pm, 14 October 2026
Interview Method: Face to Face

This Role is Subject to:

• 2 References: W here possible we require 3 years' history
• Qualification: Social Work Qualification and registration with Social Work England
• Medical Clearance: Pre-placement health assessment (PPHA)
• Casual Car Documentation: The successful candidate will be a designated Casual Car User which means that car journeys may be necessary on an occasional basis, but are not essential to the role. If you do drive, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work, as well as provide all the appropriate documentation. You will receive an allowance per mile of business use.
• 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 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.

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to join the Adult Early Support Team (AEST), a dynamic, rapidly expanding multidisciplinary service at the front door of Adult Social Care within Manchester Adult Care Services. Bringing together early help, prevention, safeguarding triage, mental health support, and multi-agency partnership working, the team ensures citizens receive the right support at the right time.

Operating primarily as a virtual service, AEST provides effective, strengths-based support from the first point of contact, helping to prevent, reduce, or delay the escalation of needs while promoting independence, wellbeing, and recovery. Through early intervention, risk identification, safeguarding, and close collaboration with community and statutory partners, the team connects residents to appropriate support and local resources, reducing reliance on crisis services and supporting Manchester's prevention strategy and trauma-informed agenda.

The continued growth of the service reflects both the success of the model and the increasing demand for early support. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and delivering innovative services that keep vulnerable adults safe from harm, abuse, and neglect while helping them achieve positive outcomes and maintain their independence.

For more information about the role, please contact Operations Manager, Grace Parker, at [e-mail]

About the Candidate

We are seeking a dynamic, passionate, and innovative individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and embraces change. If you are someone who thinks creatively, works collaboratively, and is committed to improving outcomes for the residents of Manchester, we would love to hear from you.

You should have experience working in a social care setting, supporting adults with complex mental health needs, and be confident in building and maintaining effective partnerships with a range of agencies. In this role, you will work closely with on-site partners including Adult Social Care, police, mental health professionals, occupational therapists, and voluntary sector organisations to deliver coordinated, person-centred support.

As part of the Adult Early Support Team (AEST), you will help promote independence and wellbeing by connecting individuals with local resources and ensuring timely, appropriate interventions. To succeed in this role, you will need to be adaptable, solutions-focused, and committed to ongoing professional development, with the ability to respond effectively to the varied demands of a rewarding front-door service.

Applicants must hold and maintain registration as an Experienced Practice Educator, a qualified Best Interests Assessor (BIA), or an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP), with a demonstrated commitment to supporting professional development, promoting best practice, and delivering high-quality outcomes for adults in Manchester.

Qualifications and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Mental Health Practice - provide specialist mental health social work support through assessment, intervention, care coordination, and person-centred planning to promote wellbeing and independence.
• Safeguarding & Risk - manage safeguarding and risk effectively, applying legislation and professional judgement to protect vulnerable adults and achieve positive outcomes.
• Early Intervention - deliver timely, strengths-based support that promotes independence and prevents the escalation of needs.
• Partnership Working - collaborate with partner agencies to coordinate support and deliver integrated services for Manchester residents.
• Practice Leadership - provide professional guidance, mentoring, and specialist advice to promote high-quality practice and continuous learning.
• Quality & Improvement - maintain high standards of practice and contribute to service development, performance improvement, and inclusive service delivery.

About Us

Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you’re supporting communities or improving public services, you’ll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone

Benefits we offer

• Up to 26 days’ annual leave,rising to 31 days after five years’service
• Buy up to two extra weeks’ leave
• Up to 3 days’ volunteering leave
• A 35-hour work week for full-time roles
• We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions
• TheUK’s largest local government pension scheme
• Enhanced parental and carers leave
• Employee discounts andperks
• Good Employment Charter member

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

Manchester City Council values equality and works to provide a fair and inclusive environment for a workforce that is as diverse as the communities it serves. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly welcome applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.

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 and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

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 ofemployment.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.

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.

GM Elevate Programme

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

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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.

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