Most social workers are grinding through 80-hour weeks just to pay rent, watching their mental health slip away while their salary stagnates. We're not here to add to that grind. This role in Bolton is built differently, with realistic hours, genuine support, and a team that actually invests in your wellbeing and career from day one
You'll be working with young people in a residential setting where your caseload is manageable and your voice matters. This isn't about churning through cases on a spreadsheet; it's about building real relationships with the young people you support, understanding their stories, and helping them move towards stability and independence. The team here operates with the belief that burned-out workers can't do good work, so they've built rotas that respect your time and your life outside these walls
You'll be part of a service that's genuinely committed to professional development. Training isn't a tick-box exercise; supervision is regular, reflective, and focused on your growth as a practitioner. This is a setting where your expertise is valued, your decisions are backed, and you're trusted to do the skilled, complex work that drew you to social work in the first place
The young people here have real, complex needs, and they need someone who can stay present with that complexity. You'll be contributing to their care plans, coordinating with education and health partners, and being the consistent adult in their lives when consistency matters most. This is work that builds your practice, deepens your understanding of trauma and resilience, and reminds you why you chose this profession
What you will be doing
- Deliver direct, relational support to young people in the home, building trust and understanding their individual needs and backgrounds
- Contribute to care planning, risk assessment, and safeguarding decisions, working collaboratively with the wider team and external partners
- Coordinate with education, health, and family services to ensure joined-up care and progress towards the young person's goals
- Document work clearly and maintain records that reflect the quality of your practice and the young person's journey
- Participate in regular supervision and reflective practice with your team, using this space to develop your skills and manage the emotional demands of the work
Why you will love working here
- Realistic working hours that protect your time and mental health, so you can actually do good work and still have a life
- Regular, quality supervision and access to training that develops your practice and builds your confidence in complex situations
- A team that gets it; they understand the demands of this work and they show up for each other
- The chance to work with young people whose stories matter, where your presence and skill genuinely change outcomes
- Clear progression pathways and recognition that investing in your development is how the service stays strong
Is this you?
- You're a qualified social worker with experience in children's residential or community settings, or you're ready to bring your social work degree and passion into your first real role
- You can sit with difficult emotions, yours and theirs, without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down; you understand that resilience and reflection go hand in hand
- You have solid knowledge of safeguarding practice, child development, and the legal frameworks that shape social work; you know how to apply them in real time
- You're genuinely curious about the young people you work with; you want to understand what's driving their behaviour and what support they actually need
- You're someone who values being part of a team; you communicate clearly, you ask for help, and you contribute to a culture where learning and honesty matter
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.