At a Glance
- Tasks: Transform outcomes for children and families through coaching and innovative practice.
- Company: Join a vibrant team in Bexley, dedicated to social care excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent pension, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
- Why this job: Make a lasting impact on children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in strengths-based approaches and a passion for mentoring others.
The predicted salary is between 36450 - 44550 £ per year.
Help transform outcomes for children and families. Are you an experienced and passionate social worker who believes in strengths-based, relationship-focused practice? Do you enjoy coaching others, developing professional practice, and supporting positive change?
As a Consultant Social Worker / Practice Educator, you will play a key role in embedding high-quality practice across Children's Social Care as part of our Families First Partnership journey. This is an exciting opportunity to influence practice, support innovation, and help create a culture where children, young people, and families remain at the centre of everything we do.
Working closely with practitioners, managers, and the Academy team, you will champion the Signs of Safety practice model, support workforce development, and promote a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement.
What You'll Be Doing
- Supporting the implementation and development of the Signs of Safety practice model.
- Coaching practitioners and managers to embed strengths-based, solution-focused practice.
- Identifying learning needs and developing and delivering effective training and development opportunities.
- Delivering professional development programmes alongside the Academy team.
- Acting as a Practice Educator and supporting ASYE social workers.
- Coaching, mentoring, and developing social workers throughout their careers.
- Contributing to quality assurance through audits, evaluation, and practice analysis.
- Sharing learning and promoting reflective practice across the service.
- Supporting service development, improvement initiatives, and strategic priorities.
About You
You will be an enthusiastic and skilled social work professional with:
- Experience of Signs of Safety or a similar strengths-based approach.
- A passion for developing others and improving practice.
- Experience of coaching, mentoring, supervision, or facilitating learning.
- Strong analytical, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- A commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for children, young people, and families.
Why Join Us?
This is a fantastic opportunity to influence practice across the service, support the development of social workers, and contribute to a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous learning. You'll join a supportive team committed to delivering the very best outcomes for children and families.
If you're ready to make a lasting impact on practice, people, and outcomes, we'd love to hear from you.
Please note that the successful candidate will be required to be office based at least 3 days a week.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Stefanie Robert, Principal Social Worker at Stefanie.roberts@bexley.gov.uk
Candidate Profile
For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role then please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description attached.
Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Interviews commencing week beginning 28th September 2026.
About Us
Bexley is a vibrant and diverse outer London Borough nestled in the Thames Gateway between London and Kent which means it combines the perfect blend of city vibe and the tranquillity of Kent. It's got award-winning parks, open spaces, and heritage sites. The borough has excellent transport connections, including the Elizabeth Line and proximity to the M25. Bexley offers fantastic amenities such as libraries, leisure centres, and shopping areas. Our borough is also home to numerous primary and secondary schools, as well as further education institutions.
Our Offer to you
We will offer you in return a package that includes a competitive salary, coaching and mentoring programmes, an excellent pension scheme and generous annual leave plus bank holidays.
Recruitment Information
As a disability confident employer Bexley welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including hidden disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on recruitment@bexley.gov.uk
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This role may be available as a development opportunity through secondment for the Council’s existing employees. The Council’s Secondment Scheme can be found here. If this option is of interest, please contact the recruiting manager.
We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.
Consultant Social Worker employer: London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where strategic leadership in Corporate Health & Safety is not only valued but essential for fostering a proactive safety culture. Employees benefit from comprehensive professional development opportunities, a commitment to continual improvement, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on community well-being. With a focus on collaboration and support, Bexley provides a unique platform for growth and innovation in public service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Consultant Social Worker
✨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 Bexley.
✨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 Bexley!
✨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 Bexley, 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 Bexley 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 Consultant Social Worker
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 Bexley:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to London Borough of Bexley! 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 Bexley
✨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.
