School Social Worker - Orchardside School
The School Social Worker at Orchardside School plays a pivotal role in supporting the safety, wellbeing, engagement and educational success of some of the borough's most vulnerable children and young people. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the postholder will act as a conduit between the school and Enfield social care, providing early help, targeted interventions and specialist support to pupils and their families.
This is a central role in ensuring pupils receive coordinated support that enables them to thrive, remain safe and make successful progress in education and beyond. The School Social Worker will champion a trauma-informed, restorative and relational approach, promoting positive outcomes, improving attendance and engagement, and strengthening protective factors across the school community.
Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting the school's safeguarding arrangements, undertaking assessments of need and risk, and contributing to child protection plans and multi-agency safeguarding processes
- Providing individual and group interventions to support pupils' social, emotional and mental health needs, advocating for pupils and ensuring their voice is represented in decision-making
- Building strong relationships with parents, carers and families, undertaking home visits where appropriate and offering advice, guidance and signposting to services
- Acting as a key link between the school, social care, health services and other statutory and voluntary agencies, coordinating Team Around the Child (TAC) and other multi-agency meetings
- Maintaining accurate, timely and confidential records, preparing high-quality assessments and reports, and monitoring the impact of interventions
About you
Orchardside School is looking for a dedicated and experienced social worker who is committed to making a real difference for vulnerable children and young people. The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and multi-agency working to this pivotal school-based role.
The ideal candidate will:
- Hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
- Have experience of working with children, young people and families in a statutory or school-based setting
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of safeguarding legislation, child protection processes and early help frameworks
- Have experience of undertaking assessments, writing reports and contributing to multi-agency planning
- Be skilled in building positive, trusting relationships with children who have experienced trauma or adverse childhood experiences
- Have experience of working in partnership with families, carers and external agencies
- Demonstrate a commitment to trauma-informed, restorative and relational approaches
- Have strong recording, communication and organisational skills
- Be committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of practice
Orchardside School is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.
About Enfield
Enfield is one of the most diverse parts of London, with all the benefits this brings across our communities, culture, heritage and local economy. It also has incredibly diverse landscapes - from the urban centres of Edmonton, Southgate, Palmers Green and Enfield Town, to rural areas and farmland in the north of the borough.
Based in the bubbling heart of Enfield Town, situated in a modern newly designed service hub, the new office is an environment which supports our smart working policy surrounded by small businesses, bars, restaurants, a buzzing high street and shopping centre. Our brand new high-tech multiagency office has good transport links into central London and is easily assessable to the M25, A10 and A406.
We are proud of the services we offer to children and families living in the borough and work with partners to ensure children receive the best start in life. We are passionate about improving outcomes and driving up standards and performance. Ofsted has rated our children's services as GOOD overall, read the full report here
Our offer to you include:
- A rewarding role in an Ofsted rated GOOD children's services department
- Up to 32 days annual leave depending on grade and length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year and an extra day off at Christmas.
- A blend of remote and office based working
- Health and leisure discounts and tax-free bikes for work.
- Modern purposefully designed working environment in Thomas Hardy House located 5 minutes from the station
- A clear career progression pathway, supported by a comprehensive training programme
- Smart technology assistance including hybrid video conferencing
- Employee Assistance Programme to provide advice and counselling services. This is a free and confidential service available to staff and members of their family.
- Enthusiastic and proactive staff network groups
- 1 month paid sabbatical for children's social workers
- Discover the benefits of a social work career, then browse London's social work jobs!
School Social Worker - Orchardside School in Enfield employer: London Social Work for Children
Haringey Council is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions diversity and community engagement. With a strong commitment to professional development through the Haringey Academy and access to clinical support, social workers are empowered to make meaningful impacts in the lives of children and families. Located in the dynamic borough of Haringey, employees benefit from a supportive environment, competitive remuneration, and the opportunity to be part of a transformative journey towards excellence in children's services.
Contact Details:
London Social Work for Children Recruitment Team
