Advanced Social Worker in London

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Advanced Social Worker to join Croydon Adult Social Care (Disability North Team). This is a critical leadership role, providing practice leadership, professional oversight, and expert support, coaching and guidance to social care staff with varied skills and experience while ensuring the delivery of high-quality, person‑centred, and legally compliant services.

You will work closely with the Team Manager and other professionals from a wide range of organisations, to offer a joined‑up, collaborative approach to support vulnerable and disadvantaged residents live independently in their communities, support service delivery, manage complex cases, and lead on best practice, safeguarding, and continuous improvement. In line with the Council’s Transformation Plan and Service Objectives you will adopt the customer first approach. Your shared goal will be to provide the best care and support in the community as far as possible.

We are proud to say you will be well supported with regular supervision, management support as well as peer‑to‑peer learning. You will work within a friendly and fantastic team of passionate professionals who put the well‑being of staff at the heart of practice. Our diverse team is committed to making a positive difference to our residents' lives.

• Provide practice leadership and professional supervision support to qualified and unqualified social care staff
• Lead on complex, high‑risk, and safeguarding cases, offering specialist advice and decision‑making
• Support staff development through coaching, mentoring, and reflective practice
• Promote and ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including: Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Safeguarding Adults policies and procedures
• Support quality assurance through case audits, learning reviews, and service improvement activity
• Deputise for the Team Manager when required
• Work collaboratively with health, housing, voluntary, and partner agencies
• Champion strengths‑based practice, equality, diversity, and service‑user empowerment

• A qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England
• Highly experienced in adult social care, ideally within disability services
• Confident managing complex casework and safeguarding concerns
• Skilled in providing professional leadership, guidance, and challenge
• Passionate about improving outcomes for adults with disabilities
• Organised, resilient, and able to balance practice leadership with operational demands
• Able to travel independently in and out of borough in connection with work and undertake client visits in varied community settings – Licence to drive will be preferable.

• Social Work qualification recognised by and registered with Social Work England (SWE)
• Awareness of strengths based, person centred approaches to social work and social care, including strengths‑based assessments, and person‑centred support planning
• Awareness of needs, assets, risks and issues relating to adults with social care needs and their carers
• Working knowledge of relevant legislation/policies/codes of practice/guidance
• Knowledge of the benefits/welfare system
• Knowledge of diverse communities and anti‑discriminatory practice
• Knowledge of adult protection issues
• Knowledge and understanding of mental capacity assessments and best interest decision making
• Knowledge of evidence‑based practice including within safeguarding setting
• Have successfully completed BIA training and hold (or be eligible to hold) a licence to undertake DOLS assessments
• Have successfully completed other relevant post‑qualifying training / awards and can demonstrate how this has improved their standards of professional practice

Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role. Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The Successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.