Social Worker, Children in Need in London

Join an Outstanding Local Authority. The London Borough of Islington offers exceptional opportunities for professional growth within a supportive and innovative environment. We are looking for enthusiastic and talented Social Workers to join our Children in Need Service. Ofsted has again judged Islington’s Children’s Services as outstanding, recognising consistently high‑quality support for children, young people and families. Inspectors noted that children’s needs and experiences strongly shape decision‑making, reflecting a well‑embedded child‑centred culture. They also highlighted the borough’s broad and effective early‑help offer, manageable caseloads that allow thoughtful and timely practice, and ambitious, skilled leadership that drives continuous improvement.

As a Qualified Children in Need Social Worker, you will bring experience in safeguarding, assessing risk and creating collaborative well‑managed plans to safeguard children. You will take responsibility for progressing plans that support sustainable change within families, stepping cases up to care proceedings or down to targeted services where appropriate. The role requires a clear commitment to dignity, respect, empathy and strength‑based, collaborative practice. Your work will focus on building meaningful relationships, supporting families to make positive changes and helping children remain safe and thrive.

Our Practice Model: Motivational Practice

Motivational Practice is Islington’s established practice framework. It equips practitioners with communication skills that help families identify their own reasons for change, with empathy at the heart of all interactions. Motivational interviewing sits at the core of Children in Need practice. To ensure the best match for the service, applicants take part in a two‑stage interview process, with the first stage designed to explore your compatibility with motivational approaches. Prior MI expertise is not essential; instead, we look for individuals with the potential to develop these skills through structured training and reflective feedback. Full details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Islington welcomes applications from diverse, Black and minority ethnic candidates and is committed to addressing structural racism and inequality. Applicants should understand how inequalities affect communities, and demonstrate the ability to work effectively with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. You should be able to interpret issues from multiple cultural perspectives and actively promote equity and inclusion through your everyday practice.

What Islington Offers You

• Social workers in the Children in Need Service benefit from protected caseloads and reduced bureaucracy, enabling regular visits, direct work and stronger relationships with families.
• A comprehensive core training programme supports goal‑based interventions, evidence‑based tools, reflective practice and careful risk assessment.
• An intensive multi‑disciplinary service is available where risks are high, adding further depth to your interventions.
• Regular reflective supervision and ongoing practice development ensure you are continually supported in your role.
• In addition, the role offers a retention bonus, Zone 1–2 Travelcard, excellent pension scheme, generous annual leave, flexible working options, an experienced management team and a central working location on Upper Street in Islington.
• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service.
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work‑life balance, as well as a 35‑hour working week.
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential.
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum.
• Excellent local government pension scheme.
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships.
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Recruitment Process & Closing Information

Candidates who are successful at the Motivational Interview stage will be invited to a follow‑up technical interview. Although we are committed to supporting career development, applications from newly qualified social workers cannot be accepted for this particular vacancy. We encourage you to check the council’s website for future opportunities.

Interested?

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

About You

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future. We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero‑tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check with children/adult barred list, Social Work England/HCPC registration, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.