Senior Social Worker

Senior Social Worker – Blackpool (New Service Launch)

A strategic leadership role for aspiring and experienced social work leaders

Be part of something new. Shape a service. Lead system change.

CGL is excited to be launching a new service in Blackpool, working in close partnership with Blackpool Council to improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable adults, children and families affected by substance misuse.

We are now recruiting a Senior Social Worker to play a pivotal leadership role in this new service.

This is not a typical “Senior Social Worker” role…

If you are currently working as a Senior Practitioner, Advanced Social Worker, Team Manager or experienced NHS social worker, this role is likely to be a step up in scope, influence and strategic responsibility.

Within CGL, the Senior Social Worker:

• Sits on the Senior Leadership Team
• Operates at a strategic level, alongside the Service Manager and Deputy Service Manager
• Has leadership responsibility that is more akin to senior management roles in a local authority/NHS setting
• Influences practice, partnerships and safeguarding arrangements across the system

This is an ideal opportunity for a social worker who is:

• Ready to broaden their leadership experience
• Aspiring to senior management or principal social work roles
• Interested in system leadership, partnership working and service development

Why join CGL – and why Blackpool?

• A new service: genuine opportunity to shape culture, pathways and practice from the outset
• Strong partnership working: co-producing a joined-up response with Blackpool Council
• Strategic influence: championing the rights and needs of families impacted by substance misuse
• National leadership support: access to CGL’s UK-wide senior social work network
• Career progression: develop transferable senior leadership skills across sectors

About the role

As Senior Social Worker, you will:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership within the service
• Line manage and support family safeguarding workers embedded within the local authority, holding Child Protection cases where substance misuse is a factor
• Work closely with the Service Manager and Deputy Service Manager to ensure high-quality, trauma informed practice and continuous improvement
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the service
• Oversee and contribute to strategic partnerships, The Blackpool Safeguarding Board (BSAFE), Blackpool MASH Hub and various strategic boards relating to multiple disadvantage, drugs and alcohol treatment and recovery.
• Take the lead on:
• Safeguarding Adults Reviews
• Domestic Homicide Reviews
• Learning from deaths and serious incidents
• Oversee and support student social workers and social work apprentices
• Liaise with national safeguarding business partners where risk is complex
• Upskill the wider workforce in:
• Anti-oppressive, trauma informed practice
• Risk assessment and safety planning
• Safeguarding children and adults
• Legal literacy, including the Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014 and MCA 2005

Professional support, development and CPD

At CGL, social work leadership is valued and invested in. You will benefit from:

• Professional supervision from the Head of Social Work / Principal Social Worker (in additional to line management supervision)
• Membership of a virtual, national network of Senior Social Workers, offering peer support, consultation and involvement in national workstreams
• Quarterly national social work forums to connect, share learning and influence practice across the UK
• These forums and networks can count towards CPD for Social Work England re‑registration
• One day per month for CPD activities

Who we’re looking for

We are keen to hear from social workers who are:

• Registered with Social Work England
• Passionate about supporting people impacted by substance use
• Confident in complex decision-making and safeguarding leadership
• Experienced in partnership working across children’s and adults’ services
• Motivated by leadership, influence and improving systems – not just casework
• Curious, reflective and ready to step into a strategic role

Experience of line management, safeguarding leadership or practice education is welcome – but if you are an experienced practitioner ready for your next step, we’d love to talk to you.

Ready to step into senior leadership?

If you are looking for a role where you can:

• Shape a new service
• Influence system-wide practice
• Develop as a senior social work leader
• Make a lasting difference to families and communities in Blackpool

…then we would really encourage you to apply.

Informal conversations are very welcome. Please contact Beth Shedden, Head of Social Work beth.shedden@cgl.org or Wendy Moss, Implementation Change Lead, Wendy.moss@cgl.org

Direct applications only — we will not be engaging agencies for this vacancy.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Interviews 19^th May, subject to confirmation by commissioner

Please note: *Salary is subject to review in line with the 2025/26 pay award

**Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.