Advanced Practitioner

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract type: Permanent

Additional Pay - the above salary includes a £5000 Market Rate Supplement 

This role is subject to -

• Social Work Qualification and registration with Social Work England
• This post is a designated Essential Car User. Therefore you must hold a full valid driving licence at all times and provide your own car for use at work. You will receive the Essential Car User Allowance.
• The post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a 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.

Be Part of The Journey

Our Manchester, Our Children.

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.

“Social workers are positive about working in Manchester. They value the support from managers…Some social workers who have been in Manchester since the previous inspection confidently told inspectors that they can see how the change in culture and practice in Manchester is improving children’s lives.” Ofsted, 2022

Rachael says, ‘The best things about working in Manchester are the teams you work in, the amazing support and resources. Everybody’s always on hand to help. One of my highlights was running a Wellbeing Week to help my colleagues relax and feel valued. If you join Manchester, welcome! You’re going to have a great time.’ 

Melani says “I have been developed from an ASYE, to social worker and Advanced Practitioner and now Team Manager. I have welcomed a learning culture to improve practice. I have found in Manchester I have been supported as a single mum and understanding my situation. I have felt they had my back and defended me when needed. They celebrated my successes with me. They asked me about me understood what was important to me and throughout had genuine interest in my career development. I have only ever worked in Manchester and I like that staff culture on the floor. I love the fact that staff and very helpful and work together to ensure that out Manchester children receive the much-needed support in time. I love the vibe I get when I am in the office. It is welcoming and friendly. I like the fact that Manchester offers regular trainings to it staff to help improve practice. I like the fact that Manchester offers flexible working to its staff and staff are supported when they are feeling overwhelmed by their managers. More recently, I like the fact that there is room to progress career wise and Manchester is making efforts to ensure that this progression is fair and free of based to the best of its abilities.” Our promise to you

• A manageable and diverse caseload aligned with your experience and skills opportunities to develop your skills in social work and consider areas of interest
• The Average caseload in Manchester for Advanced Practitioners is: 15 but some have as a low as 10 to support other members of staff.
• A commitment to CPD through a bespoke learning and development programme
• Clear career pathways, to help you take the next step opportunities to move into specialist services such as our migrant children, complex safeguarding or disability teams.
• 2 Advanced Practitioners on each of our Locality, Duty and Permanence Teams- working together to help support the team and Team Manager
• Regular, quality, reflective supervision and learning from practice audits weekly training days in each of our localities.
• Weekly Learning Spaces where you have protected time for up to an hour a week as a group to focus on a specific area of learning our Teaching Tuesdays or Wise Wednesdays.
• A supportive management and leadership team
• Full Corporate and Directorate induction
• Opportunities to be developed into Management roles
• Support into Independent Reviewing officer roles
• Opportunities to move to other areas in a large organisation and develop your skills and knowledge.
• Regular Advanced Practitioner Training on topics of direct relevance to your role to create confidence and skill.
• Opportunities to be NAAS Accredited
• You will be expected to become a Practice Educator and to develop students within the organisation
• You will be supported to develop in your role and look at other opportunities we are focused on your career and aspirations.
• Child and family centred outcomes across all sectors by looking at how we Identified the right intervention at the right time ‘building a safe, happy, healthy and successful future for children and young people.

Staff benefits

• Flexible working arrangements, including remote working and mobile technology.
• Accessible free parking close to our locality offices.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Travel discounts.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Access to an employee assistance programme.
• Essential Car User Allowance over £1,000 per annum + up to 52p per mile.
• Annual Staff Awards for Excellence. 

Why Manchester? 

Awarded Council of the Year 2022 by the Local Government Chronicle for our ambition, innovation and leadership, there’s never been a better time to join Manchester City Council.

The City’s “Our Manchester" strategy and approach promotes a strengths-based approach to understand issues and respond to children, young people and families.

Practitioners working together in a locality, having conversations, to agree and provide timely and safe interventions by providing the right service, at the right time and in the right way. This will effect positive change for our children a to have safe, happy, healthy and successful lives

Shaping partnerships and working together to improve the lives of children and young people in Manchester.

Did you know.... We currently have 25 Team Managers in Children’s Social Care who were once ASYEs in Manchester? We look to develop our staff and give them the opportunity to develop their practice and knowledge.

Where would you be based?

Our locality offices across the city are - we offer flexible working from home and office time with teams so let us know what works for you:

• North - Harpurhey District Office, Moston Lane, Harpurhey, Manchester, M9 4DD.
• Central - Longsight District Office, 523 Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester, M12 4LL.
• South - Wythenshawe District Office, Etrop Court, Rowlandsway, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M22 5RG.
• Permanence - Wythenshawe District Office, Etrop Court, Rowlandsway, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M22 5RG.

About the Candidate

We’re looking for people who can provide effective, quality, professional social work to children and their families, with the outcome of improving lives. You’ll lead and co-work on complex cases, and help to support your colleagues’ development within the team.

In your role as an Advanced Practitioner, you will:

• Find ways to improve the service and help your team better protect Manchester's Children
• Undertake effective direct work with children and families
• Role model professional ethics
• Understand the law and the family justice system undertaking ongoing research
• Undertake child and family assessments, demonstrating effective analysis, decision making, planning and review
• Understand the role of the child, family and child development
• Role model the 'Our Manchester' behaviours

About Us

We’re the local government authority for Manchester, and have teams across the city helping to make this a great place to live for everyone. We’re proud to do local government differently, in a city with an international reputation for diversity, creativity, culture and passion. 

When you join us, you’re joining a team of over 7,000 council staff helping to make our ambition for Manchester a reality. Whatever your role, you’ll be supporting our residents and communities to be the best they can be, and helping to build a Manchester that's fairer for everyone who lives, works, volunteers, studies or plays here. 

To make our ambition a reality, every person we recruit needs to play their its part. It takes a certain type of behaviour, attitude and way of working to get Manchester where it wants to be. Our people and partners have agreed five ‘behaviours’ – the grounding for how we must work together and treat one another:

• 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

A career with us means you can be yourself, thrive, and build the career your talent and ambition deserve. 

Creating an inclusive team at Manchester City Council 

At Manchester City Council, we strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. If you want to find out more about the role, our culture, flexible arrangements or any adjustments, If you are invited to interview we will ask you if you require any adjustments in order for you to best demonstrate your suitability for the role in the interview process. 

Guaranteed Interview Scheme 

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• 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 health condition

Accessibility 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we provide support for employees with physical or mental-health conditions, a disability or neurodiversity. Our workplaces are accessible by design, and we make workplace adjustments including providing aids, adaptations and equipment. These, combined with our flexible working policies such as disability-related leave, enable our employees to perform their role, thrive and be their authentic selves in work.