Children with Disabilities Team Manager Central

About The Role

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: 31 August 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.
• 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 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 looking for a social work team manager for the Children with Disabilities Team in the Central Locality.  Achieving outstanding outcomes for our children with disabilities is a top priority for Manchester. The Children with Disability Service has had a lot of development in the last year and we are looking for the right person to continue this journey and drive that improvement. The Children with Disability team in Central is fully staffed, with social workers who are all really dedicated to their children. 

We are looking for a dedicated and supportive leader who can offer a high level of support and challenge to ensure we achieve outstanding outcomes for our children. 

• The role holder will be responsible for the safe delivery of care or people support functions, ensuring the discharge of statutory responsibilities and the provision of a high-quality standard of service which promotes the wellbeing of individuals and groups within the community.
• 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.

The right candidate will demonstrate that they:

• Are a dedicated and supportive social work leader, who offers a high level of support and challenge to social workers and partners in line with Manchester’s values and behaviours;
• Are a real team player, who works skilfully and thinks creatively;
• Are skilled in the use of range of frameworks for assessment and intervention;
• Will assess and respond to risk and create plans for some of our most vulnerable children;
• Will build and maintain strong multi-agency & stakeholder relationships (based on high support and high challenge) to support improvement across the SEN system
• Have a strong working knowledge and experience of:
  • Mechanisms of supporting disabled children and their families throughout their journey,
  • The fundamentals of social work (including safeguarding processes)

There are 3 children with disabilities teams across Manchester, who work really well together along with a CWD Lead.

You are part of a large management team in Central (15 in Central) and will high level of support

Caseload average on the team is 15 meaning the social workers have a manageable caseload, you will be managing 7 people with 2 permanent Advanced Practitioners.

You do not need to have had experience of a disabilities team, if you have had experience in a management role we would like you to apply and become part of our team

Manchester is an Outstanding Local Authority.

For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Gemma Crook, at [email protected] to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

About the Candidate

The post holder should have social work qualification and at least five years post qualification practice.

In Manchester, we are proud and passionate about the work we do. Our vision is to create a city that is thriving, full of talent, fair, a great place to live and connected. Manchester - a place to live, work and play Health & Wellbeing at Manchester City Council

“Social workers like working in Manchester; they report accessible and good management support and access to appropriate learning and development. The morale of the staff seen during this visit is good.” Ofsted Focused Visit, December 2019

The Children's Social Work Services are not currently considering applications from overseas. You  must  be living in the UK to be considered for the role at this time.

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 - W e 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 

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirement s 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 [email protected] .

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.
• Proof of Manchester Residency : For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
• Police Vetting : Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance :  BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information
• 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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