Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Grade H. Scale 29 - £39,862 to Scale 34 - £45,091 with a professional bar at SCP 31 £41,771**
Hours: 36 hours per week
Base Location: Ashton Police Station, Manchester Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 0BQ.
Assessment Date: To be arranged
Interested in working with children at risk of exploitation in our Complex Safeguarding Team?
The Role
We are looking for a Social Worker to join Tameside’s Complex Safeguarding Team. The team offers an essential and fast-paced provision, working with young people who are identified as at risk/victims of child exploitation, human trafficking and/ or missing from home. We have a strong focus on building trusted relationships and a trauma informed approach with young people alongside the disruption of perpetrators. This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative service and play a key role in safeguarding and supporting young people at risk of exploitation across Tameside, including carrying out assessments and delivering bespoke interventions to reduce harm, raise aspirations and achieve great outcomes. You will work closely with colleagues from GMP and Health and other partners to deliver the best possible response to those at risk of exploitation.
About You
You’ll be able to:
* Conduct thorough assessments to identify adolescents at risk of exploitation, including but not limited to, sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, and trafficking. Utilise trauma-informed approaches to understand the complex needs and experiences of young people affected by exploitation.
* Provide immediate support and crisis intervention to adolescents experiencing exploitation or facing imminent risk. Work collaboratively with law enforcement, child protection agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of young people.
* Act as a strong advocate for adolescents, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are upheld. Empower young people to make informed decisions about their lives, while offering practical support and guidance to navigate challenging situations.
* Work closely with multi-disciplinary teams, including police, health care professionals, schools, and community organisations, to develop coordinated responses to exploitation cases. Facilitate information sharing and joint working to ensure a holistic approach to safeguarding young people.
* Develop and implement comprehensive risk management and safety plans tailored to the individual needs and circumstances of each young person. Continuously assess and review risks, making necessary adjustments to safeguard against further exploitation.
* Develop and deliver education and prevention programs aimed at raising awareness of exploitation among adolescents, families, communities and partners. Equip young people with the knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to exploitation risks effectively.
* Record Keeping and Documentation: Maintain accurate and confidential records of all assessments, interventions, and case progress in accordance with statutory requirements and organisational policies.
About Us
Message from Jill Colbert, Director of Children’s Services
“I joined the council at the beginning of 2025 and was instantly charmed by the warmth, openness, and energy of colleagues.
“I came to Tameside for one reason; because I know we can do fantastic things for our families here.
“We’re a children’s service on a significant improvement journey. We know what needs to be different for our children and families and we’re ambitious to deliver that change.
“We have a growing range of specialist services for children, where you can test and grow your skills and practice. We have a Social Work Academy that is led by people who bring passion to learning and who know that the DCS’ of the future are right in front of them. We are working on our progression pathways so that staying in Tameside is rewarded and recognised. We have investment in innovation and improvement from the council so that we can grow services and support for families that we can sustain, from family hubs through to complex safeguarding.
“I am so certain that we can build a proud, inclusive and safe climate for great practice to flourish in Tameside. I’d love you to join me on the journey here at Team Tameside.”
Why work for us?
We recognise that our staff are our most important resource and asset.
You will receive regular supervision and work in a supportive culture where we are ambitious about delivering effective social work practice and supporting you to be the very best you can be.
In Tameside we like to look after our employees and also offer a fantastic range of employee rewards and benefits, including:
* Minimum of 28 days leave each year, with the option to buy additional leave
* 36 hours working week
* Health and wellbeing support
* Salary sacrifice schemes
* Family friendly policies, including maternity, paternity and adoption leave
* Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
* Discounts at local shops, health & fitness clubs, restaurants and much more
Be that difference and find out more information why you should work for us here
This post requires an enhanced DBS Disclosure.
This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English in the person specification.
All appointments will be to the bottom salary point in the grade with annual incremental progression each April until the grade maximum is reached. Where an individual can provide evidence that their existing salary in a relevant role surpasses the grade starting salary, a higher entry salary will be considered, subject to the professional grade development criteria also being met if that point is higher than the bar point.
** This post is classified as being in a professional job category. As such the grade for the job has a professional grade development bar which employees can progress through subject to meeting the following criteria:
1. Relevant professional qualification for the job role at Level 6 or above, AND
2. Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in the role, AND
3. Maintained membership of a regulated body where this is a requirement to practice in the role where applicable, AND
4. Professional standards practised to the highest expected level.
Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.
We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.
Our rewards and benefits package can be viewed here
If you require further information or wish to discuss an application, please contact the Team Manager June Edmondson on june.edmondson@tameside.gov.uk