At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Assessment team to support children and families through creative care plans.
- Company: Barking & Dagenham, a dynamic borough committed to community resilience.
- Benefits: Flexible working, professional training, career development, and wellbeing initiatives.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to improving outcomes for vulnerable children.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Social work degree and current SWE registration required.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Barking & Dagenham is committed to supporting a more resilient community through prevention, early intervention and support, to better support Children across all our services. We are currently recruiting for a qualified senior social worker who is passionate about Children’s social work to join our Assessment team. If you are ready for a new challenge, Barking and Dagenham is a unique borough with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Our teams manage complex cases and organise plans to meet the needs of children and young people through care plans and pathway plans. Assessment Social Workers are confident about working with partners within and outside of the Council to deliver effective and efficient services. Working with us, we will give you the time and support you need to make a difference. Promoting creativity is at the heart of our practice. Social Workers are encouraged to share ideas, bring about positive change and strive to continuously improve outcomes for our vulnerable children and young people.
Special requirements for this post: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and a comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on successful applicants including a Disclosure check. The postholder will need to have a social work degree and hold a current SWE (Formerly HCPC) registration.
About you: You are a passionate, caring and dedicated Social Worker; a good communicator who will have the ability to work with a broad range of professionals, including working respectfully with children, young people and their families. You are able to make evidenced based decisions and seek management advice when necessary. You are able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with children, young people, their families and other professionals.
In return, we will give you the time and support you need to make a difference. We believe that our training, development and support is among the best in London. We are driving down caseloads, raising creativity, and working to create a balance of visits with home and office working using excellent IT and mobile working technology.
As part of our values based recruitment, we are looking for candidates to respond to the five council DRIVE Values – Deliver, Respond, Inspire, Value and Engage. For this role, we are particularly looking for candidates that can Respond, Value and Engage as per the JDPS.
About us: Barking & Dagenham is changing. It Starts Here. Think you know Barking and Dagenham? Think again. While this small corner of east London might have a reputation for needing development, scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find active communities and a place that consistently punches above its weight. The borough is changing – and changing for the better.
Yes, the borough has its challenges. But it’s on the cusp of something exciting. With one of the youngest populations in the country, ambitions are high and rightly so. 98% of our schools are rated Good or Outstanding and every year more of our talented teenagers get into Russell Group Universities and hotly sought after apprenticeship schemes.
We have award winning parks, centuries old manor houses full of relics and artifacts you can go and see, and the ruins of one of Anglo-Saxon England's most powerful and wealthiest religious sites. We’re even bringing beavers and white storks to the borough to help rewild the local landscape and boost biodiversity.
Over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to improve how we deliver services and support our community. From tackling inequality to making sure our services are the best they can be, we’re focused on what matters most to local people. We’re creating the conditions for people to thrive - so everyone can enjoy a good quality of life, feel proud to call this place home, and be part of something bigger.
#ItStartsHere - with our streets, our schools, our neighbourhoods. And with your application to join our determined team who are passionate about doing what’s best for the future of Barking and Dagenham.
As an Investors in People Gold Award employer, we’re serious about supporting our staff. From flexible working, professional training and career development to wellbeing initiatives, we want our people to feel valued and supported in everything they do.
Our values, known as DRIVE, shape how we work:
- Deliver our best every day – and do what we promise
- Respond in a prompt, positive way to our community’s needs
- Inspire others with our attitudes and actions
- Value people for who they are and what they can do
- Engage with others to improve our resilience and flexibility
We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.
(Permanent) Senior Social Worker - Assessment employer: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
As a Heritage Place Manager with Barking and Dagenham Council, you will be part of a dynamic team dedicated to transforming the borough through culture and heritage initiatives. The council is an Investors in People Gold Award employer, offering flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work culture that values diversity and community engagement. Join us in making a meaningful impact in a vibrant area of London, where your contributions will help shape the future of our local heritage.
Contact Details:
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land (Permanent) Senior Social Worker - Assessment
✨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 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
✨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 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham!
✨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 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, 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 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham 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 (Permanent) Senior Social Worker - Assessment
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 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to London Borough of Barking and Dagenham! 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 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
✨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.
