At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children with disabilities, creating memorable experiences and positive outcomes.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Waltham Forest, a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to suit your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your career in social care.
- Qualifications: Experience in health and social care, especially with children and families.
The predicted salary is between 35520 - 37134 £ per year.
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: Scale 6 £35,520-£37,134
Contract Type: Full-time/Permanent
Number of openings: 2
Working hours per week: 36 hours
Application Deadline: 31/07/2026
Proposed Interview Date(s): TBC
Reference: 2137
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.
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.
About the role: We're seeking dedicated Social Care Assistants who are passionate and looking to move into a role that truly matters, supporting children, creating memories, and being a part of something special to join our Children with Disabilities Specialist team. The Children with Disabilities Specialist Team is a place where you can realise your potential. If you are a dedicated and creative person looking to make your mark in working with children with disabilities, develop your career and improve the lives of children and their families, our forward-thinking Children’s Directorate should be your next career destination. We are a supportive, focused, and inspirational service. Our shared purpose is to nurture independence and freedom of choice in our children, young people, and families, helping them to achieve the best possible outcomes. All our staff work together to build and maintain a centre of excellence and best practice. In return for your hard work, we will give you the time and active support you need to make a difference.
Promoting creativity is at the heart of our agenda to develop social work; you will be encouraged to share ideas, bring about positive change, and strive to continuously improve outcomes for our vulnerable children and young people.
Key Responsibilities:
- Monitors and evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of children’s plans in consultation with other key professionals reporting back to the Advanced Practitioner / Team Manager about the outcomes achieved in accordance with Directorate requirements.
- Resolve non-routine customer/service queries.
- Customers are satisfied with the response, or aware that issue has been escalated.
- Assess and prioritise telephone and personal callers and responds appropriately.
- Relevant, accurate, understandable, and timely information is provided.
- A positive image of the Council is promoted.
- To maximise the life chances of disabled children through education, health care and leisure opportunities.
- Engages directly with the children and families and provides supportive, targeted intervention to achieve identified outcomes.
- Completes timely children in need reviews to promote good outcomes in accordance with Directorate Policy and National Legislation.
- Manages and keeps a record of schedules of visits and contacts for appropriate children, to support in the smooth running of procedures within agreed guidelines to monitor the progress of the children concerned.
- Support to children with disabilities and their families is provided to the required standards and timescales.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Prior experience in Health and Social Care; experience working with children and families setting/minimum of one year.
- Demonstrable knowledge and experience of issues relating to children in need and safeguarding children, including relevant legislation, guidance and procedures.
- Experience of service delivery which is culturally sensitive and responsive to the needs of a multi-cultural community.
- Able to prioritise and effectively work under pressure.
- Managing a quality service by ensuring key performance indicators relating to service areas are met.
- Ability to work well within a team and maintain clear and regular reporting lines to line manager and senior team members.
- Display agile behaviours and understand change at any given moment and respond to it effectively.
- Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, and to follow through on required actions.
- Commitment to the participation of children, young people and their families both at an individual and service level.
- In rare emergency situations, the ability to work flexible or unsocial hours at short notice.
Desirable:
- Have an understanding of the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and other relevant legislation, procedures and guidance relating to children and families.
- Awareness of current issues in childcare policy and practice.
- Commitment to the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy and acceptance of responsibility for its practical application.
- To understand and comply with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Terms and conditions:
- 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.
- As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us 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 Roberta OnyeKwelu, our Head of Service – Corporate Parenting at Roberta.OnyeKwelu@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.
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.
Social Care Assistant (Children) in Walthamstow employer: Borough of Waltham Forest
The Borough of Waltham Forest is an excellent employer that prioritises a supportive and inclusive work culture, making it an ideal place for HR professionals to thrive. With a strong commitment to employee development and a focus on equality and diversity, the council offers meaningful opportunities for growth and advancement in the field of human resources. Working here means being part of a dedicated team that values collaboration and strives to create a positive impact within the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Care Assistant (Children) in Walthamstow
✨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 Social Care Assistant (Children) in Walthamstow
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.
