Social Workers in Romford

Havering Children's Services is on a clear and positive improvement journey, with significant progress made in strengthening practice, leadership and outcomes for children. We are now focused on building on this momentum, embedding strong, consistent social work practice and continuing to improve the experiences and life chances of the children and young people we serve.

To support this next phase of our journey, we are recruiting motivated and committed Social Workers across a range of services – Assessment, Safeguarding, Children with Disabilities, Children in Care, and 16+ / Leaving Care. Across all services you will work directly with children, young people and families, undertaking purposeful assessments, planning and interventions that are child-centred, strengths-based and focused on achieving timely, positive outcomes.

As a Social Worker in Havering, you will be supported to deliver high quality statutory social work in line with legislation, statutory guidance and local policy. You will manage a caseload appropriate to your level of experience and service area, completing assessments, plans and reviews that are analytical, reflective and outcome-focused. You will build effective relationships with children and families, ensuring their voices, wishes and lived experiences are central to decision making.

You will work collaboratively with a wide range of multi-agency partners, including education, health, housing, police and commissioned services, to ensure coordinated and effective support. Our approach is rooted in relationship-based practice, professional curiosity and reflective learning, with an emphasis on early help, timely intervention and robust safeguarding where needed.

Havering offers a supportive and learning-focused environment, with manageable caseloads, regular supervision, strong management oversight and access to continuous professional development through our Social Care Academy. Whether you are looking to consolidate your practice or take the next step in your social work career, this is an opportunity to be part of a service that is ambitious for its workforce and determined to keep improving for children and families.

You will be a motivated, reflective and committed Social Worker, with a passion for improving outcomes for children, young people and families. You will be values-driven, child focused and able to work effectively in a fast-paced statutory environment, balancing empathy and relationship-based practice with clear professional judgement and accountability.

In order to apply, you must be a qualified Social Worker, holding a CQSW, Diploma in Social Work or an equivalent qualification, and be registered with Social Work England. You must have relevant post-qualifying experience within children's social care, with the ability to apply legislation, statutory guidance and local procedures confidently within your day-to-day practice. You will have experience of undertaking high quality assessments, planning and interventions, ensuring that work with children and families is purposeful, analytical and focused on achieving sustainable change.

You will be able to manage risk appropriately, make defensible decisions and escalate concerns where required, always keeping children's safety, wellbeing and lived experiences at the centre of your practice. You will demonstrate strong communication and relationship-building skills, enabling you to work effectively with children, young people and families, as well as with a wide range of multi-agency partners, including education, health, housing, police and commissioned services.

You will be confident in contributing to professional discussions, meetings and decision-making forums relevant to your service area. As part of Havering's ongoing improvement journey, we are looking for Social Workers who are open to learning, reflective in their practice and committed to continuous improvement. You will be receptive to feedback, supervision and quality assurance processes, and motivated to contribute positively to a culture of learning, collaboration and shared responsibility.

Essential Qualities

• A strong commitment to safeguarding children and promoting positive outcomes
• The ability to work with complexity, uncertainty and risk in a thoughtful and balanced way
• A child-centred, strengths-based and inclusive approach to practice
• Professional curiosity, resilience and accountability
• A willingness to contribute to service improvement and practice development

Vision for Our People Directorate

The vision for our People directorate is "Supporting our residents to stay safe and well". At the London Borough of Havering, this means delivering high quality, relationship-based social work that makes a meaningful difference to the lives of children, young people and families.

Benefits

• We are a family-friendly employer and welcome applications for part-time roles at 0.5 full time equivalent.
• £4,000 annual market supplement payment for Social Workers, Advanced Practitioners, Team Managers and Service Manager.
• A tailored training programme along with development opportunities through our very own dedicated Social Care Academy and corporate offer of 10 days of learning per year.
• Access to accredited systemic training and in-house practice application workshops.
• A commitment to achieving and maintaining management caseloads.
• Generous local government pension scheme and leave entitlement.
• Subsidised parking at various council-owned car parks across the borough.
• Modern workplace equipped with the latest technology.
• A strong corporate health and wellbeing offer, discounted gym membership, employee assistance programme and much more.
• Annual staff recognition schemes (STAR awards and Social Care awards) celebrating and recognising staff commitment and achievement.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. The London Borough of Havering is a Disability Confident employer. Applicants who declare that they have a disability in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and meet the essential criteria as specified in the Job Profile will be guaranteed an interview. Priority consideration on all advertised roles will be given to London Borough of Havering redeployed employees.

As a council, we are required to carry out a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In addition, the Authority reserves the right to request employees undertake a basic disclosure check (Disclosure Scotland) where required for the role. These posts will be required to have a Basic Disclosure Scotland check as per the requirements of BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standards).

Should you require any help or advice with your online application, please contact the Recruitment Help Desk on 01708 432770.