Social Care Team Manager (Maternity Cover) - Manchester

Social Care Team Manager - Manchester

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

• Salary: £47698
• Hours: 35
• Contract Type: Temporary (maternity leave cover starting from January 2027 for up to 12 months)
• Location: Hybrid, working from Manchester hospitals/Home From Home and home
• Closing Date: 13/9/26
• Interview Date: 1/10/26

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

We challenge the systems and policies that surround children and young people, we highlight gaps and campaign for change. Because we know what a better future could look like. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.

About the role

We’re excited to be recruiting a Social Care Team Manager to cover maternity leave and join our dedicated West Region, covering the Manchester area. In this role, you’ll be supporting children and young people diagnosed with cancer by managing a team of social care staff who deliver services in line with our organisation’s service specifications.

This is a hybrid role with flexibility to work both from home and our Young Lives vs Cancer offices within the hospitals and home from home in Manchester. While you’ll have the option to work remotely within our hybrid working guidelines, there is an expectation that you will visit the Manchester team on a regular basis.

This role is subject to a Criminal Record Check. In the event of a successful application, a Enhanced Criminal Record Check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

This role is also subject to a current Social Worker Registration.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy.

Our work is rewarding but also complex and demanding; you will need to be resourceful and resilient.

We are looking for a social work qualified experienced people manager to take responsibility for operational management and development of our social work services.

You will ensure that effective services are delivered to children and young people with cancer and their families through the professional supervision of our staff group, working across split sites.

What do I need?

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• You must hold an appropriate social work qualification.
• Extensive experience of working with children and young people including complex case work and risk assessment and care planning, caseload management and interagency working
• Experience of managing safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults, legislation, procedures and best practice
• Experience of supervising students and / or staff in a social care setting
• A proven ability to manage expectations of key stakeholders including staff and service users

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website: https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/careers/our-benefits/

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

To arrange an informal chat, please contact Liz Morrey on 07775727041 or Liz.Morrey@younglivesvscancerorg.uk

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Category:

Services

Job Function:

Social Care

Job Type:

Hybrid - part home, part site

Location:

Manchester - Christie Hospital

Contract Type:

Temporary

Contract Length:

Up to 12 months

Hours per week:

35

Salary:

£47,698 (FTE)

Closing Date:

13 September 2026

Interview dates start from:

1 October 2026