Social Work Apprentice

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours per week (20% off the job learning at university)

Contract Type: Full time / Temporary (18 months PgDip or 30 months BA in training, transferring to permanent on qualification)

Additional Payments: Essential car user allowance

Closing Date: 6th July 2026

Interview method: in person

Interview date: 20th July 2026

Online written assessment: 15th July 2026

Role start date 07/09/2026

This role is subject to -

• Medical Clearance - Pre-placement health assessment (PPHA)
• Full driving licence and access to a car for work, OR willingness to travel independently in Manchester during the working day and a willingness to learn to drive by the end of the apprenticeship, as this is an essential requirement in a social work role
• Please select Yes when the application asks you if you have car documents
• 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
• 12 months experience of working (paid or voluntary) with children or young people (in the last 2 years). For example: youth provision, mentoring, family support work, nursery, school, charity or voluntary organisation.
• Maths and English GCSE grade C (4)
• Living or working in the Greater Manchester area (If you are a resident of Greater Manchester, please select Yes when the application prompts you to confirm if you are resident of Manchester)

This role is a degree apprenticeship and as such, the successful applicant will be required to undertake a course of study leading to a Social Work Degree. This qualification will take 18 months (PgDip) or 30 months to complete.

Are you passionate about working with children and families?

Are you keen to learn and grow as a professional at an organisation with a clear career pathway?

If the answer is yes to these questions, then working as a Social Worker Apprentice at Manchester City Council could be the perfect role for you.

About the Candidate

We are pleased to be partnering with Manchester Metropolitan University, to develop our next cohort of Social Worker Apprentices. Placed in our Social Work teams, you will be supported by a mentor and your peers in your work with our children and families.

You will be making a difference and improving outcomes for our residents from day 1. You will gain invaluable experience that will support you in your studies to achieve a degree in Social Work from Manchester Metropolitan University during your 20% protected learning time.

As one of our apprentices, we will pay for your degree and provide you with the support you need to be successful. All that we ask is that you bring passion and commitment to your work and your studies.

On the successful completion of your degree or PgDip, you will be able to register to practice with Social Work England and start your career as a Social Worker for Manchester City Council.

The training programme will start in September 2026 and will take eighteen months for the PgDip, or two and a half years to complete.

It is essential that you are:

• Passionate about working with children and young people
• A great communicator with children and adults
• Able to plan and organise your time and use IT systems
• Commitment to continuing learning (CPD) in your role.

If you have any further questions, you can contact [email protected]

Open Information sessions live on Teams:

Thursday 25th June at 7pm

To ask for the link, email [email protected]

About Us

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.

This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

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. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly encourage applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.

If you want to find out more about the role, our ways of working, flexible arrangements or any workplace adjustments, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. If you are invited to interview, we will ask you if you require any adjustments 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.

We've also included some useful tips on how to submit the best application.

What we will need from you if you're successful

If you are successfully offered a position with us, the pre-employment checks you will be asked to undertake will depend on the role you've applied for. As a guide, these may include:

• Passport/ID: You will be required to provide documentary proof of your right to work in the UK - please note that visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role
• References (Current / Previous employer)
• Qualification
• Disclosure and Barring Service Clearance (DBS)
• Medical clearance
• Evidence of driving licence

When you join us

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we'll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

Other relevant information

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment
Who we are - Manchester City Council
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