Social Worker - Locality Social Work Teams

Posted 28th Oct, 2025
Location
Kensington and Chelsea
Salary/rate
£44,937 – £53,319
Working pattern
Full-time – 36 hours per week
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
11th Nov, 2025
About the role

As a Social Worker in our Locality Social Work Teams, you'll work directly with children and families to help them find stability, safety and opportunity. From the first assessment through to long-term planning, you'll see each child's journey in full – making sure every decision has their best interests at heart. This is hands-on, purposeful work that changes lives and strengthens our community.

You'll be based in the Borough for a minimum of 4 days a week with one day at home, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you're working on the frontline or behind the scenes, you'll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to residents' lives. Key responsibilities include:

  • Managing a varied caseload, providing high-quality social work to children and families across all stages of their journey – from Duty and Assessment, Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked After Children, court work and care leavers
  • Combining empathy and professionalism, helping families overcome challenges and ensuring children are safe, supported and heard
  • Taking part in a locality-based duty system, collaborating with other agencies to provide a joined-up, effective response
  • Maintaining accurate, timely case recording, managing financial transactions and maintaining clear documentation
  • Representing the service in meetings and in court, contributing to working groups and staying up to date with legislation, policy and best practice

To apply, please submit your application online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description. For any queries, contact recruitment@rbkc.gov.uk. Interviews will be held in person on the 25th and 27th November 2025.

About you

At RBKC, we're all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future. You'll share our core values of putting communities first, respecting others, acting with integrity and working together to achieve the best outcomes for families. The ideal candidate will:

  • Hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
  • Have an up-to-date Enhanced DBS check covering both children and adults
  • Bring experience of child protection or statutory childcare work – or, if newly qualified, a relevant placement that demonstrates readiness for practice
  • Possess strong skills in risk assessment, communication and relationship-building, with the ability to work sensitively with children, families and professionals
  • Demonstrate organisation, resilience and attention to detail in managing complex cases and competing demands
  • Be confident using IT systems and understand how to plan effectively for children's long-term needs

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

About Kensington and Chelsea

As a social worker, Kensington and Chelsea presents a unique and rewarding work environment. The borough is home to a diverse community and the demographic make up of our staff reflects this.  

We are committed to promoting equality and celebrating the benefits of diversity. We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

The borough’s commitment to social care is reflected in its innovative approach to service delivery. For example, the Council has established a Bi-Borough partnership with neighbouring borough Westminster, which allows for the sharing of resources and expertise. The partnership has resulted in improved service delivery and better outcomes for vulnerable residents, which was recognised in our last ILACS inspection which found Kensington and Chelsea to be Outstanding in all judgement areas.

“Children in care and care leavers receive an outstanding service from workers who know them exceptionally well and are caring and ambitious for them. There is strong corporate support from the wider council to provide high-quality social work services for children, including significant financial investment so that the conditions are in place for excellent social work practice to flourish.”

Ofsted

Social workers in Kensington and Chelsea can look forward to a package that includes a competitive salary and child protection payment of £2,500 for social worker positions, membership of the Local Government pension scheme, Travel allowance scheme for zones 1 and 2, cycle scheme, reimbursement of Social Work England fees, generous annual leave plus bank holidays and discounts for many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments. Employees also benefit from an extensive training package, with access to the West London Alliance essential training and to years 1 and 2 of Systemic Practice.

In addition, we offer an annual leave purchase scheme where you can purchase up to 5 days annual leave per annum at 90 per cent of the actual cost. The Council has a staff contributory private healthcare scheme, open to all staff and offers a Dental Insurance Plan.