Social Worker, Children Looked After, Corporate Parenting

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities! We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

As part of Lewisham’s Children and Young People’s Directorate, the Senior Social Worker provides a high-quality, accountable statutory social work service to children who are looked after, subject to care proceedings, or progressing toward adoption. This includes delivering robust assessment, purposeful intervention, and meaningful case planning and review in line with legislation, Council policy, and the standards outlined in Lewisham’s Senior Social Worker role profile.

Working collaboratively with foster carers, birth families, adopters, Special Guardians, education and health colleagues, and other partners, Senior Social Workers ensure that children benefit from coordinated and trauma-informed support. This reflects Lewisham’s identity as a diverse, inclusive borough and its commitment to relational practice and championing the rights of children, families, and communities.

The postholder will manage a caseload of complex looked after children, ensuring that their needs, wellbeing, identity, and safety are central to all planning. They will produce high-quality written evidence for court, contribute to permanence planning, and prepare reports for CLA reviews, legal meetings, panels, and multi‑agency partners. In their senior capacity, the Senior Social Worker will provide guidance, professional, informal support to social workers and alternatively qualified staff members. They will contribute to reflective practice and team development whilst upholding strong recording, compliance, and safeguarding standards. This role is central to promoting stability, timely permanency outcomes, and safe, nurturing futures for children.

The successful candidate will contribute to service development and help embed best‑practice approaches that reflect Lewisham’s values, legal responsibilities, and commitment to high‑quality children’s social care.

What’s in it for you? Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

Lewisham has a rich cultural value and if you want to work in a thriving borough and our social work vision connects with your professional values, then we are interested in hearing from you. We are looking for people to join our team who:

• Value the importance of communication and seeking feedback
• Can inspire and motivate those they work with, manage and lead
• Are committed to developing their skills and expertise to deliver an excellent service
• Are professionally curious and value thinking slowly and calmly in a balanced way
• Work inclusively, collaboratively with others recognising their strengths
• Take responsibility and make a positive contribution by focusing on solutions
• Are transparent, are appreciative in enquiry, reflect and learn

Strong report writing skills, the ability to gather comprehensive information and trauma informed assessments, and the capacity and ability to work efficiently to meet court deadlines and meet competing demands.

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU, but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

To apply for this post, you must have a degree in social work or equivalent qualification. Have relevant professional experience in conducting kinship assessments. Be registered with Social Work England. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Diversity Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process.