At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformative adult social care services and enhance community support.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Waltham Forest, a hub of culture and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, job security, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with flexible working options available.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while shaping the future of social care.
- Qualifications: Degree-level education and relevant social work qualifications required.
The predicted salary is between 81107 - 107171 £ per year.
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: AD1 - AD5 (£94,811.07 - £107,171.54)
Contract Type: Full-time, permanent
Working hours per week: 36
Application Deadline: 21/06/2026
Proposed Interview Date(s): TBC
Reference: 2175
About Us:
Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.
London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.
About the role:
This is a key Assistant Director role responsible for Home First and Provider Services. This includes hospital discharge pathways, community intake and reablement alongside Occupational Therapy services. The post holder will also oversee the council’s portfolio of in-house provider services which includes 3 residential care homes, the Shared Lives Scheme and the Dementia Hub. The post is a permanent appointment to provide strong leadership, as we shape our new operating model across adult social care, further embed strengths-based practice and new approaches to maintaining independence and prevention. This is an exciting time to lead the next phase of our service transformation work, building on our recent CQC assessment and ‘Good’ judgement.
Key Responsibilities:
The post holder will report to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care Operations and hold the strategic and operational lead for the Home First service area and in-house provider services. This includes significant responsibility for MTFS delivery and leadership of workstreams within the directorate’s transformation programme.
Qualifications and Requirements:
The successful candidate will be educated to degree level, with qualified Social Worker or allied health professional status with current Social Work England or HCPC registration.
- Demonstrable experience of managing frontline social care delivery across a wide range of services, to diverse communities.
- Substantial relevant experience of managing specialist services which support complex service delivery, with expert technical/professional knowledge and experience.
- Thorough understanding of relevant legislation.
- Extensive experience of managing change effectively across a service area.
- Substantial experience of managing significant budgets and resources.
- Significant experience of writing reports, specifications and agreements.
- Authority and credibility to build relationships, influence and engage successfully with colleagues, partners and clients at all levels in complex or politically sensitive situations.
- Initiative, strategic and political awareness demonstrated in problem solving and decision making.
Terms and Conditions:
The below terms and conditions apply to this role:
- Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
- Satisfactory declaration of interest;
- This role is subject to safer recruitment practices as it involves work with children and/or vulnerable adults;
- Satisfactory DBS check;
- Continued professional body registration;
- This post is politically restricted therefore the post holder is disqualified from undertaking certain political activities under the Local Government Officers (Political Restrictions) Regulations 1990.
As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English. This means that they must have a command of spoken English, with confidence and accuracy, sufficient for the effective performance of their role. This requirement does not refer to any particular English language qualifications, regional or international accents, dialects, speech impediments or the tone of conversations. It does not require staff to speak only in English.
How to Apply:
To request an informal conversation about the role with Alex Chidgey, Corporate Director of Adult Social Care Operations please contact Lorraine Samuels at Lorraine.Samuels@walthamforest.gov.uk. Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives:
- Promoting equality of opportunity
- Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage
- Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels.
- Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent services to all.
Respecting Diversity is a core Council value. To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.
For more information on the benefits of working for the Council, please visit here.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Lorraine Samuels, Leadership Support Assistant at Lorraine.Samuels@walthamforest.gov.uk. If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk. The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method.
Fraud Awareness Notice: The London Borough of Waltham Forest only advertises vacancies via our official website and approved recruitment platforms (e.g. Jobsgopublic). We will never ask for payment or request sensitive personal or financial information as part of our recruitment process. If you are contacted by a third party claiming to represent the Council, please verify the vacancy via our official careers website before sharing any information. If you have concerns about a job advert or communication, please report it to: fraud@walthamforest.gov.uk.
**INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY** AD Adult Social Care (Home First & Provider Services) employer: Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is an exceptional employer, renowned for its commitment to creating a healthy, fair, and inclusive workplace. With a strong focus on employee well-being, professional development, and diversity, the Council offers a vibrant work culture that empowers staff to make a meaningful impact in the community. As one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers, Waltham Forest provides unique opportunities for growth and innovation in adult social care, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking to lead transformative change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land **INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY** AD Adult Social Care (Home First & Provider Services)
✨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 Waltham Forest.
✨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 Waltham Forest!
✨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 Waltham Forest, 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 Waltham Forest 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 **INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY** AD Adult Social Care (Home First & Provider Services)
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 Waltham Forest:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Borough of Waltham Forest! 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 Waltham Forest
✨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.
