Westminster

Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We want and encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we service at all levels. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and are empowered to be their best. 

We are a multi award winning and forward-thinking Council which appreciates that people work in different ways, and where our staff benefit from working in a range of flexible and agile working patterns.

The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application, we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend and thrive, and we will make these wherever possible.

We are an outstanding place to work!  Judged to be Outstanding by Ofsted since 2016:

“Social workers are proud to work in Westminster”

Ofsted, 2019 

“Workers genuinely enjoy their work and would not change anything about working in Westminster”

Ofsted, 2022

Supported by a well embedded systemic practice framework, and benefiting from clinical input, expertise in trauma informed practice and innovative interventions including Non-Violent Resistance, Video Interactive Guidance (VIG) and multi-family therapy, we are a nurturing, exciting and innovative place for social workers and other social care practitioners to practice, grow and thrive!

In 2014, we introduced a systemic practice model across all of family services in Westminster.  Nearly a decade later, systemic practice is well embedded and understood across the system, and our interventions continue to evolve and mature.  Family therapy clinics run in most locality teams, clinicians are embedded in teams, and practitioners are trained in a range of specialist interventions, making the most of working relationships with families and enabling families to create change. 

We continue to have one of the lowest staffing turnover rates across London and have low numbers of agency staff. Our manageable caseloads and stable workforce, including experienced and nurturing leaders, supports staff to deliver an excellent service to families and truly develop meaningful and rewarding relationships.

Westminster is dynamic, multicultural and unique - much like you, our potential employees.

This is an opportunity to work within a family services that has been Ofsted rated as OUTSTANDING since 2016 and with stable inspiring leadership also rated by Ofsted as OUTSTANDING. Caseloads are manageable and you will have the opportunity to genuinely make a difference to families. We are committed to creating opportunities for our staff to thrive.

We believe that everyone has talent. We will coach and mentor our people, taking the time to nurture our own. Staff have several opportunities for career progression within the organisation through secondment and permanent appointments to managerial, clinical and other specialist roles.

We have a culture where our people embrace feedback and are constantly learning. We are continuously striving to set high standards and finding innovative ways to provide a better service to our residents. Our offer to you includes:

• Systemic Social Work Practice for Children and Families (Year 1 and 2)

• Signs of Safety

• Rich training offer through the West London Alliance (various core and additional   training)

• Supportive, inspiring and reliable leadership

• Manageable caseloads and a strong Early Help offer to provide a wide range of   resources

• Support from our highly skilled clinical team

• Competitive remuneration packages

• Genuine remote and flexible working options – we know how important this is to you

•  Smarter Working with new modern technology 

• Wellbeing service, leisure, and discount benefits (Council scheme)

• Travel season ticket loan, cycle scheme, Local Authority pension

Interested in working for us? Hear below from our staff on why we think Westminster is a great place to be a social worker.

Visit our website for more information and detail about working in family services in Westminster.

To arrange an informal discussion with one of our managers, please contact Myriam Ridgway, Senior Business Support at mridgway@westminster.gov.uk