Social Worker - Children in Care in Enfield

This role includes one month's paid sabbatical for Children's Social Workers.

About the role

If you are considering your next professional opportunity as a Social Worker, and looking for an ambitious and highly motivated employer who is continuously striving for better services for children and young people, Enfield is your next stop.

As a member of the Children in Care Teams, this role involves supporting children living with relatives, friends, foster families, prospective adopters, or older children living in children's homes and semi-independent units. The successful candidate will build sustainable relationships, plan for permanence, and champion children and young people to reach their full potential. Enfield operates the Family Safeguarding model — a whole family approach that uses Motivational Interviewing to empower parents to create sustained change for themselves and their children.

Ofsted have recognised the quality of Enfield's service, stating: "Children who are in care in Enfield receive outstanding care and support from social workers and carers who know them very well. Experienced and highly skilled social workers understand children's needs, wishes and feelings very well. Manageable caseloads allow workers to visit children very frequently, in line with their needs."

This is an exciting time to join the service, with new integrated Family Help Teams recently going live and a strong multi-agency child protection team (MACPT) due to launch later in the year. Key responsibilities include:

• Building meaningful, sustainable relationships with children and young people in care through regular visits and direct work
• Planning for permanence and supporting children to take steps towards independence
• Preparing reports and undertaking direct work with families to progress care plans
• Participating in Family Safeguarding Supervision to support reflective practice and shared decision-making
• Championing children's wishes, feelings, and unique identities through life-story work and trauma-informed practice

About you

Enfield is looking for an experienced and motivated Social Worker who shares a genuine commitment to achieving the best outcomes for children and young people in care. The successful candidate will bring professional curiosity, a reflective approach, and a passion for meaningful direct work.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a recognised Social Work qualification (degree or equivalent)
• Be registered with Social Work England
• Have experience of working with children in care or a related children's social care setting
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of permanence planning and relevant legislation
• Be skilled in direct work with children and young people, including life-story work
• Have experience or knowledge of Motivational Interviewing or similar approaches
• Be able to prepare high-quality reports for statutory purposes
• Demonstrate a commitment to reflective practice and continuous professional development
• Share Enfield's values of openness, learning, shared responsibility, and professional curiosity

Enfield Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and all staff are expected to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. The council is committed to equality and diversity, and encourages applications from all sections of the community. Anonymised shortlisting is in place — please do not include your name on your CV or supporting statement.

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

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