Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Additional Payments: Essential Car User Allowance
Closing Date: 10 March 2026
Closing time: 11.59pm
Interview Method: Face to Face
This Role Is Subject To
Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.
2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.
Qualification - 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 Appointable candidates will be required to apply foran 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.
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the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
The Senior Social Worker in the Sensory Team provides professional leadership in delivering high‑quality, person‑centred support to adults with vision and hearing loss across Manchester, including people who are deafblind. The role ensures services are inclusive, well‑coordinated and responsive to complex needs, while supporting the team to meet safeguarding policies and professional standards.
Working with individuals, carers and families, the Senior Social Worker promotes independence, safety and wellbeing through a strengths‑based, person‑centred approach. The role includes completing complex assessments, supporting care planning and interventions, and enabling people to live safely and independently while maintaining choice and control.
As a senior practitioner, the post holder provides guidance and support to colleagues, contributes to quality assurance and practice development, and plays a key role in safeguarding, risk management and protection from abuse in line with legislation and professional standards.
The role involves close partnership working across adult social care, health, housing, and voluntary and community organisations to ensure joined‑up support for people with sensory loss.
If you share Manchester's ambition to deliver high‑quality services and empower people with sensory loss to live safely, independently and with dignity, we would welcome your application.
Making an Impact in the Service
This role is central to driving high‑quality practice and positive outcomes for adults with sensory loss across Manchester. As a Senior Social Worker, you will lead and influence safeguarding practice, support robust and lawful Mental Capacity Act decision‑making, and provide professional oversight in complex cases. You will play a key role in chairing and contributing to multi‑disciplinary meetings, ensuring effective collaboration, shared accountability and timely decision‑making.
If successful, you will join a team of dedicated professionals committed to promoting independence, advocating for people's views, wishes and choices, and ensuring support is shaped around their personal, agreed outcomes while maintaining safety, dignity and wellbeing.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the hiring manager, Stephen Nicholas, Sensory Team Manager, on, or Sharon Bristow, Complex Needs Service Manager, on Alternatively, you can email or to arrange a convenient time to discuss the post.
We are seeking a positive, experienced and outcome‑focused Senior Social Worker with strong professional judgement and a commitment to high‑quality, person‑centred practice. You will be confident in leading complex work, including safeguarding and multi‑disciplinary decision‑making, and committed to developing others through supervision, mentoring and professional support.
Essential Requirements
We would love to hear from you if you have experience of:
Undertaking complex assessments and care planning using a strengths‑based, person‑centred approach.
Leading and chairing safeguarding enquiries and multi‑disciplinary (MDT) meetings.
Applying the Mental Capacity Act, including complex capacity assessments and best‑interest decision‑making.
Managing risk and promoting protection from abuse in line with legislation, policy and professional standards.
Providing professional leadership, guidance and reflective supervision to colleagues.
Supporting and mentoring ASYE social workers and contributing to the development of social work students, including practice learning and professional development.
Working collaboratively with partner agencies, including health, housing and voluntary sector organisations.
Maintaining high‑quality, defensible recording and clear professional communication.
You must be a registered Social Worker with Social Work England and meet the generic skills and technical requirements outlined in the role profile.
Desirable Requirements
The following experience would be beneficial but is not essential:
Experience working with adults with vision loss, hearing loss or dual sensory impairment
Experience within a specialist or complex needs service
Experience chairing complex MDT meetings across agencies
Practice educator experience or willingness to work towards a relevant qualification
Experience working with third‑party or voluntary sector organisations
Familiarity with local authority systems and Microsoft Office applications
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, recognize 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
Requirements
We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements 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
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
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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