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Senior Social Worker | Children in Care | Manchester City Council

£40 per hour (Umbrella) | Locum

If you’re strong on permanency, relationship-based practice, and you can drive quality without turning everything into a battle, this is a proper Senior post. It suits someone who can hold complexity, support others, and keep momentum for children.

About the role

You’ll manage a CIC caseload and provide a more senior level of oversight in planning, risk management and progression. Expect court-adjacent thinking (even when it isn’t “court work”), high standards of recording, and a clear focus on the child’s lived experience. Practice in Manchester is aligned to Signs of Safety as an overarching framework, with tools to support consistent assessment and planning across the service.

Key responsibilities

Lead and progress care planning and permanency (long-term fostering, SGO, adoption, reunification where appropriate)

Complete high-quality LAC work: visits, reviews, PEP oversight, multi-agency planning

Produce clear analysis and recording that stands up to scrutiny and QA

Support/mentor colleagues and contribute to stronger decision-making across the team

Manage risk confidently and escalate appropriately when plans drift

Benefits 

Senior-level role where your judgement actually matters

Strong platform if you’re building toward AP/management long-term

£40/hr is competitive for CIC at Senior level

Requirements

SWE registration

Recent experience in Children in Care / Permanency

Strong planning, written work, and confidence in multi-agency challenge

Enhanced DBS (or Update Service)

Interested?

Emily Cooper | | (phone number removed)

Referral bonus available for successful recommendations