Working Hours:  2 x 35 Hours Per Week
Contract Type:  Permanent, Full Time
Working Style: Hybrid - Employees split their time between working remotely (e.g., from home) and working on-site (e.g., in an office). 
Additional Payments: Essential Car User Allowance
Closing Date: 11.59pm, 9 October 2026
Interview Method: Face to Face

This Role is Subject to:
  • Qualification: Social Work Qualification and registration with Social Work England
  • 2 References: Where possible we require 3 years' history 
  • 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 for 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. 
  • 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. 

 

As a Senior Social Worker (Hospital Discharge), you'll provide specialist mental health social work support to adults experiencing mental ill-health, complex social circumstances and significant support needs, helping people achieve timely, safe and sustainable discharge from hospital.
 

You'll help Manchester City Council's Adult Social Care Mental Health Service to deliver high-quality, strengths-based and person-centred interventions, ensuring individuals receive the right support at the right time to maximise independence, recovery and wellbeing. Your work will contribute to improved hospital flow, reduced delayed discharges, fewer avoidable readmissions and better outcomes for Manchester residents. 

In this role you will:

  • Lead and coordinate social care involvement in mental health hospital discharge planning.
  • Manage a complex caseload and undertake Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding responsibilities.
  • Assess and manage risk, promoting recovery, independence and positive risk-taking.
  • Work with health, housing, safeguarding, voluntary sector and community partners to coordinate effective support.
  • Support individuals, carers and colleagues through professional advice, consultation, mentoring and high-quality social work practice. 

For queries about the role, please contact the hiring manager, Joshua Howard at joshua.howard@manchester.gov.uk or Thomas Walker at thomas.walker@manchester.gov.uk, to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role. This route is for vacancy-related enquiries only and should not be used to submit applications.
We’re looking for an experienced and values-driven social worker who can bring sound professional judgement, a strengths-based approach and a clear focus on recovery and independence. You’ll be confident working with complexity, risk and safeguarding, and able to build effective relationships with individuals, carers and partner agencies to support timely and sustainable hospital discharge.

  • A recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
  • Post-qualifying experience of working with adults experiencing mental ill-health and managing complex casework, including risk and safeguarding.
  • Evidence of applying relevant social care legislation and working collaboratively with health, housing and other partners to deliver strengths-based, person-centred outcomes.

We’ll use the following essential criteria to decide which candidates to invite to assessment. Use your personal statement to provide evidence of how you meet each one, supported by relevant examples:

  • Qualified Social Worker with current registration with Social Work England.
  • Significant experience of mental health social work practice, including complex assessment, risk management and safeguarding.
  • Experience of supporting hospital discharge, recovery planning and promoting independence through strengths-based approaches.
  • Ability to work effectively across organisational boundaries with health, housing and community partners to achieve positive outcomes for adults and carers.
For guidance on how to write your personal statement, please visit How to Apply - Manchester City Council.
  

If you’re invited to assessment, we’ll look at a wider range of the role requirements. For more detail, please see the role profile.  

Use of AI 

You may use AI to support your application, but all examples must be your own and based on real experience. Applications may be withdrawn if content is misleading or presents someone else's experience as your own. Internal candidates may also face disciplinary action. 

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme 
We guarantee progression to the assessment stage for applicants who meet the essential criteria used for shortlisting and are eligible under the scheme. Learn more 

Support and Adjustments  
If you're successful in securing a role, we'll make every effort to provide the support, equipment and reasonable adjustments you need to carry out your duties. Where needed, we'll consider adapting aspects of the role. Learn more 


Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city. You’ll help improve lives and support our local communities. Working together, we can create better public services for everyone. 

Benefits we offer

  • Up to 26 days’ annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years’ service
  •  Buy up to two extra weeks’ leave
  •  Up to 3 days’ volunteering leave 
  •  A 35-hour work week for full-time roles
  •  We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions
  •  A defined benefit pension scheme
  •  Enhanced parental and carers leave 
  •  Employee discounts and perks  

Learn more at Careers - Manchester City Council 

Our commitment to inclusion 

At Manchester City Council, we're dedicated to creating a workplace that fully reflects the diversity of our local communities. We actively encourage applications from people of all ages and backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from applicants from ethnic minority communities and disabled people, who remain underrepresented in parts of our workforce. 

GM Elevate Programme 

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the 'Personal Statement' section or 'Supporting Statement' section of your application. 

 

Accessible Formats: 
Use ReciteMe  through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. It has tools such as text-to-speech, language translations, and adjustable text size and colour. 

Calculate your take home pay. 

Privacy Notice 

Ready to apply?

Location

, , Manchester, , United Kingdom

Job ID

9112

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To keep our recruitment process fair and inclusive, please complete your application personally and follow the instructions carefully. AI can be used to support you - for example, to help structure your answers or as a reasonable adjustment - but your application should still reflect your authentic voice.

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  1. What Is AI and How Do We Use It Across Greater Manchester?

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    This means:

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    We recognise that AI can be a helpful tool to support accessibility during the application process. If you choose to use AI for support, please read the instructions carefully and make sure your application is written in your own words, reflecting your genuine skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.

    We’re looking forward to hearing your story.

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    • Remove your individuality, we want to hear your voice

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