At a Glance
- Tasks: Join Croydon's MASH team to support children in need through effective social work.
- Company: Croydon Council is dedicated to delivering excellent services for children and families.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working, and extensive professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives while working in a diverse and supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified Social Worker with experience in statutory childcare settings.
- Other info: Hybrid working available; join a team that values collaboration and positive change.
The predicted salary is between 44000 - 49000 £ per year.
Advanced Social Worker – MASH – Children – Croydon Council
Salary: Grade 14 £51,522 – £53,607
Permanent – 36 hours per week
Retention Payment – £2,500
Hybrid working
Job Purpose
We are seeking social work qualified and experienced social worker to join Croydon's Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). Croydon's MASH is the 'front door' for all new referrals for children who may need early help support or children's social care intervention, making important decisions about which services children need. We are committed to delivering excellent social work practice and services to our children and families. Our goal is to make the right decisions, at the right time and so help set a positive journey for all children. As a MASH Social Worker, you will work within a structure of 3 MASH teams, aligned to 3 Team Managers. You will also work alongside a newly formed Early Help Triage Team, comprising of Senior Early Help Navigators, a Substance Misuse Worker, and a domestic abuse IIDVA. As a MASH social worker, you will be responsible for a daily allocation of MASH referrals, where you will speak to parents, carers and young people and gather information from partner agencies towards analysing risk and need and helping identify the right service the child needs. You will have opportunities to provide consultation advice to professional referrers, as well as participating in multi-agency risk management forums. Candidates will need to have significant post qualifying experience, including in a statutory childcare setting. Prior MASH experience is useful but not essential. Candidates will need to be able to demonstrate good experience, knowledge and skills of ability to work in front line setting; being able to work with a complex and diverse range of needs and risks; and making effective and timely decisions involving child protection, child in need and Early Help interventions. Candidates will need to have had working positively with partner agencies and ability to develop collaborative working relationships with children and their families. Candidates will need to have good knowledge and understanding of legislative framework, relevant research and national developments, and policies relating to children's social care.
Essential Requirements
Qualified Social Worker, Social Work England registered.
Working knowledge of national policy, strategy and developments regarding children\’s social care, and areas that impact on children\’s social care.
Managing a daily allocation of MASH referrals within required time frames.
Ability to manage competing priorities.
Ability to engage positively and collaboratively with parents/carers towards discussing referrals, understanding the needs/risks to the child and identifying the right services to meet the child\’s needs.
Engage effectively with multi-agency partners and being able to gather good quality information to assist with decision making.
Good analytical skills.
Demonstrate good written skills, so MASH activity is clearly recorded, up to date and analysis of risk and need and recommendations are clear.
Good threshold decision making.
Ability to work as part of a team and contribute to team and service development.
The role will involve you using a range of systemic ideas in your work, including promoting a practice philosophy which seeks to empower service users, build on individual strengths, and develop strategies which support them to understand, manage and respond to risk.
You will be required to be office-based a minimum of 3-days per week and at other times according to service needs.
Why Join Us
In Croydon, our Children\’s Services has an established Systemic Practice model, experienced leaders, and high support for practitioners. Croydon people and staff are diverse, and we celebrate difference through focus on anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice. We are committed to delivering excellent social work practice and services to our children and families. As well as this we also offer the following: Our teams consist of experienced Social Workers at various levels
Join a highly diverse workforce
Reflective supervision is actively promoted and supported.
The ethos at Croydon is very much about working together to make positive change
Caseloads of Social Workers are very manageable enabling managers to know children well & ensure high standards of practice
You will join an established team who can help you settle in and offer their expertise
Benefits
You will be valued for your skills and expertise, supported by the team of experienced professionals, as well as the management at Croydon Council, one of the largest employers in the borough. We also offer:
Highly competitive compensation package
Accredited Systemic Practice training
A range of CPD opportunities
29-31 days (grade equivalent) annual leave in addition to Bank Holidays and option to purchase more
A pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 20%
Continuing Professional Development – genuine opportunities to grow, develop and specialise in your career
Management development programmes
Investment into your wellbeing
Access to Employee Discount scheme with a range of programmes
We promote flexible & hybrid working arrangements where possible to support a healthy work-life balance.
Full time 36 Hours
To view the Advanced Social Worker role profile click here
Closing date: Sunday 27 July 2025 at 23:59 ( Please note applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis and interviews will take place before the end close date to successfully fill the positions as soon as possible. )
Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Statement
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
Advanced Social Worker - MASH - Children - Croydon Council employer: London Borough of Croydon
Contact Detail:
London Borough of Croydon Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Advanced Social Worker - MASH - Children - Croydon Council
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Croydon's Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) model. Understanding how MASH operates and the specific roles within it will help you demonstrate your knowledge during interviews and show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Croydon Council, especially those in social work roles. They can provide insights into the team dynamics and expectations, which can be invaluable when preparing for your interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of relevant legislation and national policies affecting children's social care. Being able to discuss these confidently will set you apart as a candidate who is not only qualified but also well-informed.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare examples from your past experience that showcase your ability to manage competing priorities and make effective decisions under pressure. This will help illustrate your suitability for the fast-paced environment of MASH.
We think you need these skills to ace Advanced Social Worker - MASH - Children - Croydon Council
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience in social work, particularly in statutory childcare settings. Emphasise any experience you have with MASH or similar environments, and showcase your ability to manage competing priorities.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for working with children and families. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully engaged with multi-agency partners and made effective decisions in child protection scenarios.
Demonstrate Your Knowledge: Showcase your understanding of the legislative framework and national policies related to children's social care. Reference any relevant training or continuous professional development you've undertaken that aligns with the role's requirements.
Highlight Analytical Skills: Provide examples in your application that demonstrate your analytical skills. Discuss how you've assessed risk and need in previous roles, and how your written documentation has contributed to clear decision-making processes.
How to prepare for a job interview at London Borough of Croydon
✨Know Your Legislation
Familiarise yourself with the legislative framework surrounding children's social care. Be prepared to discuss relevant policies and how they impact your decision-making in a MASH setting.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Skills
Be ready to showcase your analytical skills during the interview. You might be asked to assess a hypothetical case, so practice articulating how you would gather information and make decisions based on risk and need.
✨Highlight Collaborative Experience
Emphasise your experience working with multi-agency partners. Share specific examples of how you've successfully collaborated with other professionals to support children and families.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in this role. Prepare to discuss how you engage with parents, carers, and young people, ensuring you convey your ability to build rapport and trust while discussing sensitive topics.