Social Worker - Family Help South in London

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities! We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK's first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants. We're looking for experienced and dynamic Social Workers to join our specialist Family Wellbeing Team, part of our innovative Family Help service. The team provides intensive, multi-disciplinary support to improve the safety and wellbeing of children whose parents or carers are impacted by drug or alcohol use — offering earlier, easier access to the right help and reducing the need for traditional child protection processes.

As a Social Worker, you will work directly with children, young people and their families using relational, trauma-informed and strength-based approaches. You will contribute to high-quality assessments and interventions, build strong multi-agency partnerships, and support families to make sustainable changes. You'll also take an active role in reflective practice within the team, helping to develop innovative approaches to supporting families affected by substance misuse.

Key responsibilities include:

• Working directly with children, young people and their families using relational, trauma-informed and strength-based approaches
• Contributing to high-quality assessments and interventions
• Building strong multi-agency partnerships to support families to make sustainable changes
• Taking an active role in reflective practice within the team
• Helping to develop innovative approaches to supporting families affected by substance misuse

The role is primarily based at Laurence House in Catford, SE6, with two local train stations within a 3–5 minute walk and a 15-minute train journey from London Bridge. A hybrid working arrangement is in place, with a requirement to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis. The recruitment process is anonymous and CVs are not accepted.

About you

Lewisham Council welcomes applications from experienced social workers who are passionate about making a real difference to children and families. The successful candidate will bring frontline safeguarding experience and a commitment to relational, strength-based practice. The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
• Have a minimum of two years' post-qualifying social work practice experience
• Have experience of managing a frontline safeguarding caseload
• Have experience of working with parents who have complex needs where there is a risk of significant harm to their children
• Have experience of completing parenting assessments, or other assessments of parents regarding the safety and wellbeing of children for use in the Family Proceedings Court
• Have experience of using the Signs of Safety practice framework to structure assessments and interventions with families
• Have experience of completing family network meetings to achieve the safety and wellbeing of children
• Have an understanding of child protection processes, pre-proceedings and giving evidence in the Family Proceedings Court

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer and welcomes and encourages job applications of all abilities. Reasonable adjustments can be made throughout the application and interview process — please contact the lead contact on this advert to discuss. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role, with the only exception being where a current salary is matched (up to the maximum of the scale), subject to evidential proof.

About Lewisham

Welcome to Lewisham – a vibrant and culturally diverse borough that is bursting with fantastic things to see and do. As a truly international borough with over 170 languages spoken in our homes and businesses, a thriving cultural scene, and a treasure trove of indie shops, bustling markets and more, it’s a great place to start and build a career. Social work in Lewisham is changing and we have set out our vision and values for how we practice. In Lewisham Children’s Social Care (CSC), we know what good social work looks like and we are passionate about creating the right conditions and culture for good practice to thrive.

Our social workers benefit from working in small, supportive teams with caseloads on average between 15-20 children. Our 'Signs of Safety' practice framework means we are committed to working in a relationship-based way with children and families, focussing on strengths in the family network to effect change. A positive learning culture which promotes opportunities for reflection and relationship-based practice is important to us. We are committed to developing our practice using reflective practice spaces such as case mapping, thinking spaces and group supervision. Our permanent and stable senior management team are visible and approachable.

Our dedicated PSW and workforce team supports professional development across the service so that you will; be supported through our comprehensive learning and development offer, which includes subscriptions to 'Research in Practice' and 'Making Research Count'. receive regular supervision and appraisal. have 1-1 practice development coaching as a case holding practitioner, and professional development coaching as a manager. have access to regular 'Signs of Safety' training and the opportunity to become a practice leader through attending our bespoke practice leader course. have access to external leadership development opportunities such as Pathways and the Black and Asian Leadership Initiative (BALI). have a clearly defined career progression pathway with opportunities for professional development at all levels.

We have a strong working relationship with Goldsmiths, University of London as part of the South East London Teaching Partnership so our practitioners have the opportunity to teach on social work courses as teaching consultants. We host 'Step Up', 'Frontline' and traditional route students and social workers have the opportunity to become practice educators.

Core CSC Staff Benefits include:

• We have been awarded the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard – a benchmark for high employment standards.
• We are also one of the first London Councils to be accredited a London Living Wage employer and are a Disability Confident employer as well as a Timewise accredited Flex positive employer.
• We offer a 35-hour working week, and:
• The opportunity to work in a thriving, diverse and developing inner London borough with a stable management team, manageable caseloads and a workforce group committed to promoting your development and emotional wellbeing
• Generous salary for social workers at all levels
• Generous holiday entitlement - starting at 27 days a year (plus public holidays) rising to 32 and 35 days after 5- and 10-years’ continued service.
• Oyster card access for travelling in and around London for work and we are exploring initiatives, including Zip cars
• Flexible working policies and a variety of hybrid, and flexible working options – we know how important this is to you
• Smarter Working with new modern technology and training to support this
• Career average pension scheme
• Family friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and special leave for emergencies.
• Variety of support schemes including key worker housing, tax-free childcare scheme, access to Civil Service Sports Club which offers financial discounts and savings on days out and entertainment.
• KAARP activities and entertainment discounts.
• We offer a shop local discount scheme, volunteering leave, long service awards, membership of the Crownsavers Credit Union and access to Payroll Giving.
• Health and Wellbeing support includes a staff support hub and 24/7 employee assistance programme which incorporates mental health support, counselling services and access to the PAM Assist health and wellbeing app.
• We have signed the Menopause Pledge and offer gender specific and gender-neutral health and wellbeing support with access to financial advice.
• We offer discounted gym and leisure centre membership including free lunch time swimming; interest free loans for season tickets, nursery childcare, and bikes, a "try before you buy" bike scheme and cycle training, smoking cessation, free eye tests and money towards glasses.
• Active Employee Groups including the Black and Multicultural Forum, Anti-racist Network Group, LGBTQ+ Forum, Disabled Staff Forum, Climate Emergency Staff Forum, Trade Union Memberships, and a staff-led Change Network

Staff tell us they feel valued and enjoy working in Lewisham and are well supported by their managers with regular reflective supervision and good access to training. "Lewisham has so much to offer any social worker. I feel supported, respected and valued every step of the way" Lewisham Social Worker.