Social Worker

Please note that this is an internal vacancy whereby only those currently employed by Wigan Council are eligible to apply

Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance

Those staff currently employed by a school are not eligible to apply for this position

Wigan Police Station

Salary: Grade 9, £39,862 - £45,091 per annum.

37 hours per week

Temporary until 31^st March 2027

We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.

We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!

Your role:
This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified social worker to join the complex safeguarding team. The postholder will utilise a strength-based, relational, trauma-informed approach to engage young people and their families. The postholder will contribute to the Families First pilot and support children, young people and their families much earlier, to offer specialist assessment and support and prevent escalation. The postholder will be responsible for completion of WISE (Working to Increase Safety in Exploitation) assessments, impact chronologies and contribution to team rotas, development days and inputs and education across the borough. The postholder will work within a multi-agency team, developing strong working relationships across agencies, advocating for the best interests of the young person and family. You will utilise family network meetings to ensure continued support and safety for the children and young people you support.

About you:
The postholder will be highly skilled and experienced in working with young people who have a range of vulnerabilities and often a dis-trust of professionals. You will be tenacious, engaging and a professional with whom the young person and family can build trust and rapport with. You will be dependable, a positive role model and organised. You will be confident in your ability to advocate for the child and family, particularly across settings, including education and placements. You will be excellent at noticing small details, piecing together information and assisting partners in building a picture of any potential harm or risk the young person may be exposed to. You will have excellent written and analysis skills to complete comprehensive, child focussed assessments that account for contextual factors and harm.

About us:

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.

You will be welcomed into a long-standing, stable, multi-agency team with a breadth of knowledge and expertise to enhance your professional development. We have a committed workforce, many of whom have been part of the team since it was first established. The postholder will have training and development opportunities, regular reflective and supportive supervision and access to specialist well-being support from our Trusted Relationship psychologist.

Here at Wigan, 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

Should you wish to discuss this role further, please contact, Louise Toye l.toye@wigan.gov.uk

Interview dates:

Priority candidates: 4^th August 2026

All other candidates: 5^th August 2026

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

The employer is committed to safeguarding

To view the details relating to this position, please click the links below: