Children's Social Worker

Posted 15th Dec, 2023
Location
Southwark
Salary/rate
£42,855 – £50,088
Hours
Full-time
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
30th Jun, 2024
About the role

For roles in our Assessment & Intervention and Safeguarding & Family Support teams, we are offering for a time limited period a Welcome Payment of £3000 for joining Southwark, followed by a retention payment of £2400 per year for your first two years, and £3600 after three years.

We are currently seeking outstanding Social Workers, to join our Safeguarding & Family Support and Assessment & Interventions services, who have the professional potential and personal attributes that our families need, can share our commitment to improving outcomes for all children and young people and tackling injustice, inequality and racism. 

We will assign you a manageable number of cases that allow your natural skills and expertise to flourish. You will:

  • Work directly with children and provide a clear and accurate assessment of the needs of the child and their family

  • Conduct interviews, develop observations and gather information from children, families and other agencies

  • Devise, implement and review plans, including the development and management of protection plans within a child protection framework, care and pathway plans.

  • Ensure all statutory responsibilities are well managed, including visiting children, arranging reviews and reporting to the court.

About you

We are looking for impressive experience of direct social work with children and their families. You will also bring:

  • The ability to formulate and implement effective social work interventions

  • Experience of preparing reports and presenting these in contested court proceedings

  • Knowledge and understanding of child development, parenting capacity, environmental issues, and risk and protective factors

  • A recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England

  • You must have successfully completed your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment

  • With recent post-qualifying experience in the UK in a social work role within a statutory setting, working with children and families, and attendance at appropriate training

This is an excellent opportunity to shine in an ambitious, well-resourced, well-regarded and stable social care environment.

About Southwark

We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities.  Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

At Southwark Children’s Services, we pride ourselves on doing our vital job differently. Our systemic, holistic, family-centred approach sits at the core of our values. And our endlessly supportive, collective, culture underpins everything we do to protect vulnerable children across our borough.

Southwark is a great place to grow and develop as a social worker. We continue to provide fantastic career progression opportunities. Supported by great partnerships and resources we are always growing and developing what we do through innovation, investment in our workforce and, most importantly, listening to children and families, and those that work with them.

Our offer to staff includes:

  • competitive remuneration packages

  • the opportunity to work in a vibrant borough in the heart of London with excellent access to Central London and easy transport links to the South East

  • a multi-cultural and diverse working environment, which provides excellent opportunities for enhancing your skills

  • modern digital plan with technology to support flexible working arrangements

  • professional development and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities through an established and extensive learning and development plan and opportunities.

  • opportunities to train as a Practice Educator and develop experience with student

  • clinical practitioners attached to every team to support you as an individual and your work with children and families.

  • culture of innovation and a ‘can do’ approach to problem solving in Social Care

  • stable, supportive leadership; Southwark has a lower ratio of workers to managers than most local authorities

  • small teams with supportive managers and manageable caseload

  • travel season ticket loans, cycle scheme, essential user care parking permits and local government pension

  • family friendly, flexible and agile working, from home or on-site

  • wellbeing programme, HSF Health plan and eye care scheme, EAP employee assistance programme, confidential counselling and support, and access to subsidised HSF health plan

If you are interested in having an informal discussion about this role, or working in children’s social care in Southwark, please contact Dan Comach, our Principal Social Worker at daniel.comach@southwark.gov.uk