Social Worker (Child Protection & Court Work Teams)

Contract: Permanent

Hours of work: 36 hours per week

Location: Civic Centre and other locations from time to time

Looking to make a real difference? Join Brent’s Family Support, Child Protection and Court Work teams and be the voice that protects, empowers, and transforms lives. Protecting Futures, Empowering Families – Come and Grow Your Social Work Career in Brent.

At Brent Council, we are proud to be rated “Good” in all areas by Ofsted. We are a borough that is deeply committed to putting children and families at the heart of everything we do. Join us and become part of a forward-thinking, supportive local authority where your work will have a real and lasting impact.

Why This Role Matters

Our Family Support Teams play a vital role in helping children and families achieve lasting change. Working with children in need and those subject to Early Help Plans, the teams provide purposeful, relationship-based support to address concerns early, reduce risk and prevent difficulties from escalating. Our Child Protection and Court Work teams are at the frontline of safeguarding children and young people. These teams carry out vital statutory work, from Section 47 investigations through to Care Proceedings. These are roles that truly make a difference—working directly with families to reduce risk, strengthen support networks, and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Support children, young people and families through Child in Need and Child Protection plans.
• Work alongside families to reduce risk and develop sustainable safety within their own support networks.
• Support families through pre-proceedings and, where necessary, care proceedings.
• Undertake parenting assessments and prepare Section 7 and Section 37 reports for the court.
• Work collaboratively with professionals across agencies, sharing expertise and driving positive change for children.

Our approach is relationship-based and rooted in systemic practice. We believe in working alongside families—recognising their strengths, building trust and supporting them to achieve lasting change.

Who We’re Looking For

We want enthusiastic, committed, and resilient social workers who:

• Have adequate post-qualifying experience in children's social care, including child protection and court work.
• Possess excellent communication, assessment, and analytical skills.
• Are confident in applying legislation and statutory guidance in practice.
• Embrace change, are IT-savvy, and work well under pressure.

What We Offer You

Your growth and wellbeing are just as important to us as the families you will support. That’s why Brent offers a generous and forward-thinking benefits package, including:

• A golden hello payment of £5,000
• Annual retention payment of up to £4,500 to reward your continued commitment.
• A minimum of 10 days of training per year, focused on direct practice and our “This is Brent, this is how we Grow” framework, which draws from systemic approaches like Signs of Safety.
• A clear and supportive career progression pathway – from Social Worker to Team Manager and beyond.
• Access to high-quality reflective supervision and a professional learning culture.
• 27 days' annual leave, rising with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
• Hybrid and flexible working options available for most roles
• Supportive family-friendly policies, including carers’ leave, paternity leave and compassionate leave for eligible employees
• Health and wellbeing support, including eye test support and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Financial wellbeing support, including education sessions, childcare deposit loans and season ticket loans
• Travel support, including affordable parking nearby, a Cycle to Work scheme and onsite facilities
• Learning and development opportunities to support your career
• Access to My Brent Rewards with exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, leisure and entertainment

To learn more about our staff benefits, visit Our offer to you.

Join Us in Shaping Brighter Futures

This is more than a job—it’s a chance to transform lives. If you're passionate about safeguarding children and committed to making a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Closing date: This is a rolling campaign. Applications are reviewed regularly and interviews take place approximately every fortnight, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications from candidates who have applied for this role in the last 6 months will not be considered.

Why Work With Us?

Your wellbeing and professional growth matter as much as the families you support. That’s why Brent offers:

• Annual £4,500 retention payment to reward your continued commitment
• 10 days minimum training per year including systemic practice and Signs of Safety
• Clear career progression pathways—from ASYE to senior management
• High-quality reflective supervision and a learning culture
• Plus: 27 days annual leave, rising to 31 and then 33 days with service + 8 bank holidays
• Hybrid working – up to 2 days per week from home (role-dependent)
• Supportive family-friendly policies
• Affordable local parking & access to Zipcar
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24/7 free counselling support
• Cycle to Work Scheme & excellent on-site facilities
• My Brent Rewards – save on shopping, dining, travel and more
• Financial wellbeing support – including season ticket and childcare deposit loans (eligibility applies)

Our Commitment to You

At Brent, we’re proud to reflect the community we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage you to share your identity in our diversity survey. We’re also a Disability Confident Employer—we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you need any reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process, just let us know at recruitment@brent.gov.uk.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and employment clearances in line with our safeguarding commitments. Join Us in Shaping Brighter Futures. This is more than a job—it’s a chance to transform lives. If you're passionate about safeguarding children and committed to making a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this and therefore encourages applications from all sections of the community. We positively encourage all applicants to self-identify their characteristics in the diversity survey section in the application. We are committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that posts working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are subject to an Enhanced DBS check as well as other employment clearances.