Make Every Decision Count. Empower Families. Shape Positive Outcomes.
Are you passionate about safeguarding children and empowering families?
Do you thrive in managing complex social work cases with compassion, expertise and a systemically informed approach?
If yes, we have the perfect role for you!
Our Safeguarding and Family Support Service is looking for a passionate senior social worker to join our Parenting Assessment Team (PAT) and help make a positive difference for vulnerable children and families in Southwark!
About the Role
This role will enable you to develop your knowledge and skills to undertake robust and analytical parenting assessments of parents whose children are subject to pre-proceedings and care proceedings.
As a Senior Social Worker in our PAT team, you will provide high-quality, integrated social work services managing complex cases with children and families. Your role will involve conducting in-depth assessments, developing tailored intervention plans, and working collaboratively with families, support networks and multi-agency professionals to manage risk and promote positive outcomes.
You will also play a key role in mentoring and coaching less experienced colleagues and social work students, helping to empower a culture of continuous learning and best practice.
About You
We are seeking a confident and skilled social worker who would like to enhance their experience in undertaking parenting assessments and working under the Public Law Outline. You will be expected to work directly with parents and their children to provide a robust and analytical assessment of a parent’s capacity to meet their child needs to assist the social work team and professionals to make important decisions regarding what is best for children in the long term. In working as part of a small practice group, you will be expected to attend and contribute to Group Supervision to offer support to colleagues undertaking their own assessments.
You will also:
About the Team:
You will be joining a friendly team of dedicated professionals who share your passion for positive outcomes for children and families. We want you to thrive in your role whilst being supported through regular one to one and group supervisions alongside having access to key development and training opportunities to grow as a social worker.
Contact Details:
If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact Irene Wamugi via email at Irene.Wamugi@southwark.gov.uk
Pay and Rewards:
In return for all your hard work, skills and experience, you will receive:
Additional Details:
Recruitment Timeline:
The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
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:
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