Social Worker 16+ Team

Havering Children’s Services is on a clear and positive improvement journey, with strengthened leadership, improving practice and a strong focus on consistency, stability and outcomes. Within our 16+ / Leaving Care service, we are committed to ensuring that care‑experienced young people receive the right support at the right time as they transition into adulthood.

As a Social Worker in the 16+ Service, you will work with young people aged 16–25, holding statutory responsibility for care‑experienced young people and care leavers. You will build purposeful, trusting relationships and deliver high‑quality social work practice that promotes safety, stability, aspiration and long‑term positive outcomes. You will be responsible for completing statutory assessments, care planning and reviews, and for overseeing robust pathway planning that is ambitious, personalised and outcome‑focused.

You will ensure that young people’s voices, wishes and lived experiences are central to all decision‑making, supporting them to develop independence skills and achieve their goals in relation to education, employment, training, accommodation, health and wellbeing. Working closely with Personal Advisors, you will provide professional oversight, guidance and continuity, ensuring that plans are coordinated and responsive to need. You will also work collaboratively with a wide range of multi‑agency partners, including housing, health, education, employment services and commissioned providers, to secure timely and effective support for young people.

You will be expected to maintain high‑quality, timely and reflective case recording, use professional judgement to assess and manage risk, and ensure that statutory duties to care leavers are met in line with legislation, regulations and local policy. Supervision and management oversight are strong, with a clear focus on reflective practice, learning and continuous improvement.

Havering offers a supportive and ambitious working environment, with manageable caseloads, regular supervision and access to high‑quality learning and development through our Social Care Academy. This is an opportunity to be part of a service that is ambitious for care‑experienced young people, values strong relationships and is committed to helping young people move into adulthood feeling supported, confident and prepared for the future.

About You

You will be a qualified and motivated Social Worker, committed to improving outcomes for care‑experienced young people as they transition to adulthood. You will bring a relationship‑based, strengths‑focused approach, and be confident working with young people who may have experienced trauma, instability or complex life experiences. You will be Social Work England registered and have a sound understanding of legislation, statutory guidance and best practice relating to children in care and care leavers, including the Children Act 1989, Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and relevant care planning and pathway planning regulations.

You will have experience of completing statutory assessments, care planning, reviews and pathway planning, and of working directly with young people aged 16–25. You will be able to balance support and challenge, using professional judgement to assess and manage risk while keeping the young person’s voice, wishes and lived experience central to your practice. Strong communication and engagement skills are essential.

You will be able to work effectively with Personal Advisors, families and a wide range of multi‑agency partners, including housing, health, education, employment and commissioned services, to ensure that support is coordinated, timely and responsive to need. You will be confident in advocating for young people, helping them to understand their rights, entitlements and options as care leavers. You will be organised, reflective and accountable, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet statutory timescales and maintain high‑quality, timely and accurate case records.

You will engage positively with supervision, quality assurance and learning opportunities, using feedback to continuously improve your practice. As part of Havering’s improvement journey, you will be committed to learning, development and reflective practice, contributing to a supportive team culture and sharing our ambition to ensure that care‑experienced young people are safe, supported and prepared for adulthood.

Non‑negotiable qualities for this role include:

• Social Work England registration
• Experience of statutory social work with adolescents or care‑experienced young people
• Strong assessment, care planning and pathway planning skills
• Ability to build purposeful, professional relationships with young people
• Confident multi‑agency working and advocacy skills
• Strong recording, organisation and professional judgement
• Commitment to reflective practice and continuous improvement

We encourage early applications, as appointments will be made throughout the recruitment period. The closing date for the receipt of applications is 5/4/26; however, interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

About Us: With its excellent transport links into central London, extensive town centre regeneration and the highest concentration of green space anywhere in London, Havering has a unique offer as a place to live, work and visit.