At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families and safeguard children in a dynamic, inclusive environment.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Newham, committed to fairness and diversity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, wellbeing services, and career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Join a team recognised for innovation and excellence in social care.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while enjoying a supportive work culture.
- Qualifications: Qualified social workers with experience in child and family support.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
£46,133 - £57,194 (includes market supplement)
Hybrid role – Newham Dockside E16 2QU
Closing date - 30th September 2026
JOIN US AND HELP BUILD A FAIRER NEWHAM
We’re a vibrant, dynamic, culturally rich London Borough with a young population and limitless potential. We’re a challenging yet rewarding place for social work practice to flourish and we are steadfastly committed to our workforce being representative of the families that we work with. We are taking coordinated, meaningful and focused action to develop an inclusive culture because we believe this is at the heart of enabling diversity in all respects, including diversity of thought. We are taking positive actions to challenge all forms of discrimination and injustice to help make Newham a fairer and more equitable place for children and families to live, learn and thrive.
As part of our commitment to building a Fairer Newham we are reimagining the way that we serve the families that we support. We are realising positive change by combining our Assessment and Intervention social work services into our new Family Support and Safeguarding Service. We’re currently looking for practitioners to join our team.
We understand that social work can be a challenging yet ultimately very rewarding profession that makes demands of you personally and professionally. In Newham we value your wellbeing and we aim to ensure that you have a better work/life balance through a remote working offer when you are not visiting children and families, a modern office space for when you’re on site, a flexible working policy where all requests are considered, and a clinical offer to support you to do your best work.
ABOUT THE JOB
The Family Support and Safeguarding service enhances the family led, relational values that were already at the centre of our practice and will continue the evolution of our firmly embedded Circles of Support practice model. We’re keeping children at the heart of everything we do whilst improving the overall experience of the families, partners, and social workers in our sphere. We want to be at the forefront of evoking positive change in the sector and we’re looking for experienced, committed, relational social workers to join us and help us get there. Above all, we want to do the best for Newham’s children and families.
The FSS service consists of four services and sixteen teams, supporting families from first point of contact and assessment and throughout any subsequent longer term intervention (e.g. referral to partners, CP, CiN) until the best, safest outcome is for the child is attained. Two of these teams will work exclusively with children and families whose lives are influenced by disability or SEND to ensure that we retain the expertise necessary to support these families. Where proceedings are necessary court work is moved on to our Children in Care service.
Social workers in the FSS service are caseholding and will be on duty 1 week in 16; we hope this will be a welcome change for social workers who are used to busy assessment services, and a positive CPD opportunity for practitioners whose experience is mainly in longer term work.
ABOUT YOU
We are looking to work with qualified, SWE registered social workers who have experience beyond their ASYE year in either assessment or long term work with children and families. We’re looking for conscientious, considerate and empathetic social workers who are committed to working relationally with families whilst putting every child’s welfare, potential, and future at the heart of their work. Newham is committed to our workforce being representative of the families we work with, to enhance cultural competence and adjust our practice to suit the individuals we serve. We are looking for colleagues who share our values and are passionate about tackling disproportionality wherever they find it and building a Fairer Newham.
WHY WORK WITH US?
We’re a vibrant, dynamic, culturally rich London Borough with a young population and bags of potential. We’re a challenging yet rewarding place to practise social work, with the networks in place to enable you to be the best social worker you can be and make a real difference to our children and their families. Our social care services were rated to be GOOD overall by Ofsted, with leadership rated as OUTSTANDING, but we have not stopped striving to be better.
- A commitment to addressing disproportionality wherever we find it.
- We’re a GOOD local authority focused on reaching excellence.
- We offer genuinely flexible/hybrid working as long as children and families are supported.
- Stability: 100% of senior management and 80% of Team Managers are now permanent.
- Our firmly established practice model, Circles of Support, was recently nominated for the prestigious MJ Award for Innovation in Children’s Services and allows systemic, restorative practice to flourish.
- Career progression is possible with Newham.
- Social Care Academy – our academy received significant praise from Ofsted and 50+ social workers have studied for systemic higher education with us since 2020.
- A competitive salary package that rivals capped agency pay.
- Oyster card/parking permit for business use.
- Wellbeing service, leisure and discount benefits.
- Travel season ticket loan, cycle scheme, Local Authority pension.
TO APPLY
To apply please submit your CV through our online recruitment portal. Our social worker roles are CV only application to make things easier for you; but please ensure your CV is up to date and lists relevant experience in line with the service you’re applying for. If you have any questions about the recruitment process or want to discuss joining Newham Children’s Services with one of our managers, please contact Grace.OgbuOgoli@newham.gov.uk
Additional Information
We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.
The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please submit your CV along with your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.
We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload. The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.
Experienced Social Workers - Children's - Family Support and Safeguarding in London employer: Borough of Newham
The London Borough of Newham is an exceptional employer for experienced social workers, offering a vibrant and culturally rich environment where you can truly make a difference in the lives of children and families. With a commitment to flexible working, a supportive wellbeing service, and a strong focus on professional development through our Social Care Academy, we empower our staff to thrive both personally and professionally. Join us in our mission to build a fairer Newham, where your contributions are valued and your career can flourish.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Experienced Social Workers - Children's - Family Support and Safeguarding in London
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Borough of Newham.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Borough of Newham!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Borough of Newham, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Borough of Newham or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Experienced Social Workers - Children's - Family Support and Safeguarding in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Borough of Newham:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Borough of Newham! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Newham
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
