Grade 9 Experienced Social Worker

CHESHIRE East; Crewe; On-site; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job description

Permanent Grade 9 Social Worker, Preparing for Adulthood transition team. Full time, 37 hours.

We are inviting expressions of interest for a permanent Grade 9 Social Worker to join the Preparing for Adulthood (PFA) Team. This role is vital in supporting young people as they move from children’s services into adult social care and ensuring that their transition is planned, person‑centred and outcome focused.

This is just a snapshot of some of the exciting things you’ll be doing in the role; to learn about the other key responsibilities please view the attached job description.

About us

At Cheshire East Council we are resident and partner focused with a vision to enable prosperity and wellbeing for all. People really are at the heart of everything we do and that starts with our incredible workforce. We promote a culture of high performance where people can aspire, thrive and flourish, and strive to deliver best value in everything we do.

For us, success isn’t just about what we achieve, but how we achieve it together. We promote curiosity, excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.

We are values‑led and committed to wellbeing and inclusion for all, where our employees co‑created our values of drive, integrity, respect and collaboration inform all we do.

We are proud to work for Cheshire East Council and believe you would be too, so come and join us!

Join us on a meaningful journey at Cheshire East Council

Join a team that’s compassionate, forward‑thinking and deeply committed to making a difference. Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, and your role will be a key part of our transformation journey. This is your chance to be part of something meaningful where your ideas, energy and work can create real impact every day.

About the Role

The PFA Team works across the whole of Cheshire East Borough Council and offers flexible hybrid working arrangements. Staff have access to work hubs including Macclesfield Town Hall and Delamere House, with the team predominantly hot‑desking at Delamere House.

The successful applicant will need to demonstrate a strong understanding of the Care Act 2014 and be able to complete strengths‑based, person‑centred assessments within appropriate timescales. They must also have a sound knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and be confident in completing capacity assessments and contributing to best‑interest decisions.

A key requirement of the role is the ability to lead on Section 42 safeguarding enquiries and to work collaboratively with Children’s Services, Education, Health partners and other professionals. The postholder must be able to communicate with and support young people from the age of seventeen, using both verbal and non‑verbal communication methods depending on individual need. They should also have a clear understanding of SEND policy, statutory guidance and associated frameworks and be able to apply these confidently in practice.

The role requires the Social Worker to work consistently in line with Preparing for Adulthood outcomes, ensuring that young people are supported to develop independence, engage in their communities, access education or employment opportunities, and plan confidently for adult life. Creativity in support planning is essential, as this work involves tailoring approaches to the aspirations, strengths and needs of each young person.

About you

The worker will be responsible for completing Care Act assessments, support planning, S42 safeguarding under the Care Act and be knowledgeable in following the mental capacity framework. The worker will need to be experienced in working in a multi‑disciplinary way with other services such as education and health services.

Further areas of work are as follows:

1. Assess the need for social work service including the identification of risk and the need for protection, determine the method of intervention, and decide and advise on the use of appropriate social services and/or other resources.
2. Liaise and negotiate with other professionals, statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that the best possible service is provided for clients.
3. Manage and monitor an allocated workload within individual and group priorities and Council policies and comply with the statutory obligations of the Group.
4. Maintain appropriate records of work undertaken and carry out required administrative procedures.
5. Prepare for and attend supervision sessions and staff meetings and make use of all available training and development opportunities.
6. Contribute to the evaluation and development of services and new ideas by sharing knowledge about theory, skills and practice with other social services staff, professional groups and interested bodies.
7. Supervise students where appropriate

To find out more about the essential and desirable criteria for the role please view the attached job description specification document.

What we offer in return

• A competitive salary – Between £39,152 per annum – £41,771 per annum with guaranteed yearly pay increases!
• Enhanced annual leave – Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service
• Purchase of annual leave – Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro‑rata for part‑time staff)
• Flexible working pattern – Enjoy a 37‑hour standard full‑time work week with the added perks of flexitime.
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme – Drive green and save green! Lease a brand‑new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme. There’re no credit checks, no deposits, just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three‑year lease
• White goods salary sacrifice scheme – Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big‑ticket purchases like appliances, computers and tech gadgets directly from your salary
• Enhanced public pension – Secure your future with our career average pension, where contributions are built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
• Cycle to work scheme – Save up to 25‑39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment through Income Tax and National Insurance savings. Get fit and save money!
• Employee assistance programme – Access a completely free and confidential assistance service to help manage, reduce and overcome life’s challenges, both at work and in your personal life
• Discounted gym membership – Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure, including:
  • Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities
  • Off‑Peak Racket Sports
  • Athletics Tracks
  • Sauna/Steam/Spa

How to apply

We’re delighted that you’re considering applying for this role!

As an equal opportunities and disability‑confident employer, we warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better reflect and serve our local communities, and together, we can build something truly special.

To join our team, simply click ‘Apply for this job’ at the bottom of the page. If you’d prefer an informal chat first or have any questions about the role, feel free to reach out to Emily Greensmith at [e-mail], they’ll be happy to hear from you!

If you would like to get in touch with us regarding this role, then please remember to include the job reference number so we can assist you accurately and in a timely manner.

Once you’ve applied for the position, please keep an eye on your email inbox (including your junk and spam folders), as we’ll send any correspondence there to stay in touch with updates about your application.

If you haven’t heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, it likely means we weren’t able to move forward with your application at this time but please don’t let this discourage you as your interest means a lot to us, as we’d truly love to hear from you again in the future!

For any technical enquiries please email [e-mail]

Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.