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Social Worker / Senior Social Worker – Family Safeguarding Social Workers

Wigan Council

Wigan Life Centre South, Wigan, WN1 1NJCloses: 22/05/2026

Social Worker / Senior Social Worker Family Safeguarding

Limited Senior Posts Available

Make a real impact in Wigan’s Family Safeguarding Service, where experienced social workers can thrive in a collaborative, multiagency environment focused on meaningful change for children and families. With lower caseloads and a permanent, stable management team, you’ll have the space, support, and leadership you need to deliver highquality social work practice.

Why Wigan?

Our recent Ofsted inspection rated us Good with Outstanding features, recognising the strength of our practice and culture. They highlighted that our teams are:

“Highly positive about working in Wigan and value being part of the 'Wigan way’.”

And that:

“Leaders have established a culture that combines high expectations with kindness and inclusion. Staff feel valued and supported, and highquality personal supervision promotes reflection and professional growth.”

This is what you can look forward to:

  • Over 94% permanent staff across Children’s Social Care stability you can count on
  • Permanent Team Managers who offer consistent direction and support
  • Opportunities to become a Practice Educator or Mentor with additional pay
  • A clear progression pathway
  • Our Aspire to Lead programme for those ready to step into leadership
  • A full month every year dedicated to professional development, delivered through two practice fortnights

About the Roles

Whether you are an experienced practitioner ready to step into one of our two Senior Social Worker vacancies, or an established Social Worker wanting to join a highperforming, supportive service, you’ll play an integral role in delivering highquality, relationshipbased practice.

About You

Our children and young people have told us that they want social workers who are:

  • Kind
  • Thoughtful
  • Responsible
  • Flexible
  • Able to prioritise them and spend time with them
  • Committed to helping them be happy and safe

If you are a qualified and experienced social worker who is motivated by meaningful practice, ready for a new challenge, and excited by the opportunity to help shape innovative approaches, we’d love to hear from you.

Application Information

We currently do not have Newly Qualified Social Worker posts available. These will be advertised on Greater Jobs when they become available, so please keep a look out.

To keep things simple, you can apply for both the Social Worker and Senior Social Worker roles through one application.

About us:

We understand that for great social workers to stay with us we need to invest in your career, which is what we will do from day 1. Whether you are an experienced social worker or newly qualified we have a career pathway that will support you to achieve your aspirations.

Wigan Council has been voted ‘Overall Council of the Year’ at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards. We are signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment ensuring that your service will be continuous or 'unbroken' between the supporting organisations.

The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our 2 place missions; create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them.

We are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits click here to find out more about working for #TeamWigan.

To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK. Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Prove your right to work to an employer

If you would like an informal chat about this role, please contact our Ellie Wilson on E.Wilson3@wigan.gov.uk or Michelle Molyneux on M.Molyneux@wigan.gov.uk who will be happy to talk to you about the roles available and our fast-track recruitment process can provide an interview within 2 weeks, if you meet the essential criteria.

This position is subject to Enhanced Disclosure Procedures plus child barred list check

The employer is committed to safeguarding

Supporting Documents

Senior Social Worker - Job Specification
Social Worker - Job Specification
Social Worker Pathways
Working in Wigan Family Safeguarding Teams - Overview
DBS Policy Statement Schools
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