At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children and families facing complex needs, ensuring their safety and wellbeing.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Newham, a diverse and ambitious local authority.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and excellent career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of an Outstanding team committed to anti-discriminatory practice.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable families and promote social justice.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification, experience in statutory children's social care, and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 52194 - 55323 £ per year.
Location: Newham, London
Salary: £52,194 - £55,323 (PO5)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Closing Date: 18th May at 23:59
About Newham
At London Borough of Newham, we are committed to Building a Fairer Newham—a borough where every child, family and resident can thrive. We are proud to be one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, and we are ambitious about delivering the best possible outcomes for our communities. Our children’s services have been recognised by Ofsted for strong leadership and a culture where good social work can flourish. We are committed to anti-discriminatory practice, tackling inequality and disproportionality through our Tackling Racism, Inequality and Disproportionality (TRID) programme. Our practice is rooted in relationship-based, restorative approaches. Our No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) service supports children and families who would otherwise be at risk of destitution. We work in partnership with families to build resilience, promote independence, and achieve sustainable outcomes. A central part of our approach is Newham’s Circle of Support—a strengths-based model that brings together family networks, communities and professionals to create lasting change.
About the Role
As a Senior Social Worker in our NRPF team, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality services to children and families with complex needs, including those with NRPF status and those who have been made intentionally homeless. You will hold a caseload of complex cases, lead on practice within the team, and support the development of others through coaching, mentoring and supervision. You will work within a restorative, relational practice framework, ensuring that interventions are strengths-based and focused on achieving the best outcomes. You will also contribute to service development, quality assurance, and the embedding of Newham’s Circle of Support approach across the team.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a complex caseload involving families with NRPF and those who are intentionally homeless, ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing.
- Complete high-quality statutory assessments, including Child in Need and Human Rights Assessments, in line with legal frameworks.
- Develop and deliver strengths-based, outcome-focused plans that promote independence and reduce long-term reliance on services.
- Work proactively with families facing housing instability, including those deemed intentionally homeless, to secure sustainable solutions.
- Build strong partnerships with housing, legal services, Family Hubs, the Home Office, and voluntary organisations to provide coordinated support.
- Respond to duty and crisis situations, ensuring timely interventions to prevent destitution and safeguard children.
- Provide mentoring, coaching and supervision to social workers, ASYEs, and project workers, supporting their development.
- Lead on quality assurance, including audits and performance monitoring, using data to drive improvement.
- Champion anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring equity is embedded in all aspects of work.
- Embed the Circle of Support model, ensuring work with families is relational, collaborative and community-focused.
About You
You are an experienced and reflective practitioner with a passion for improving outcomes for children and families. You will bring:
- A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
- Significant post-qualifying experience in statutory children’s social care, including complex casework.
- Strong knowledge of NRPF, immigration and housing legislation and safeguarding frameworks.
- Experience of working with families facing destitution and housing instability, including intentionally homeless households.
- The ability to lead practice, coach colleagues and contribute to a high-support, high-challenge culture.
- Strong analytical and assessment skills, with the ability to make sound decisions in complex situations.
- A clear commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and addressing inequality.
- Experience of, or commitment to, working within strengths-based models such as Circle of Support.
Why Join Newham?
- Be part of an Outstanding local authority delivering meaningful change.
- Work within a strong, supportive practice framework where social work can flourish.
- Access excellent learning, development and career progression opportunities.
- Benefit from flexible/hybrid working arrangements.
- Work in a service that values innovation, including our award-nominated Circle of Support model.
- Make a real difference to children and families at risk of destitution.
TO APPLY
To apply please submit your CV and a supporting statement (1-2 sides of A4). Shortlisting decisions will be based on candidates' relevant experience and on candidates' suitability for the role in line with the person specification, as described in their supporting statement and CV.
Closing date: 18.05.26 at 23:59
For an informal discussion, please contact: Rosina Sibasa – Rosina.Sibasa@newham.gov.uk or Shipa Hussain – Shipa.Hussain@newham.gov.uk
QSW - Senior Social Worker - NRPFT (Permanent) Full time in London employer: Borough of Newham
Contact Detail:
Borough of Newham Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land QSW - Senior Social Worker - NRPFT (Permanent) Full time in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in social work, especially those who might have insights into the NRPF team. A friendly chat can open doors and give you a leg up.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of NRPF and housing legislation. We want to see you shine, so think about how your experience aligns with the role and be ready to share specific examples.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for anti-discriminatory practice! Be ready to discuss how you've tackled inequality in your previous roles. This is key for us at Newham, and we love hearing about your commitment.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we’re always looking for candidates who are genuinely excited about making a difference.
We think you need these skills to ace QSW - Senior Social Worker - NRPFT (Permanent) Full time in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Social Worker role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in statutory children’s social care and working with families facing housing instability. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at Newham!
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about improving outcomes for children and families. Be specific about your experience with NRPF and how you’ve used strengths-based approaches in your work.
Showcase Your Commitment to Anti-Discriminatory Practice: We’re all about tackling inequality here at Newham. Make sure to include examples of how you’ve championed anti-discriminatory practices in your previous roles. This will show us that you share our values and are ready to make a difference.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our amazing team at Newham.
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Newham
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of NRPF, immigration, and housing legislation. Familiarise yourself with the Circle of Support model and how it applies to your work. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to manage complex cases and lead practice. Think about times when you've successfully supported families facing destitution or housing instability, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Emphasise Your Values
Newham is all about anti-discriminatory practice and tackling inequality. Be prepared to discuss how your values align with theirs. Share your commitment to promoting independence and building resilience in families, as well as any relevant experiences that highlight this.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the team dynamics, the support available for professional development, or how they measure success in their interventions. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.