At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support young people facing complex challenges to achieve better outcomes.
- Company: Royal Borough of Greenwich, committed to transforming support for families.
- Benefits: Flexible working, generous leave, professional development, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Join a diverse team dedicated to safeguarding and promoting welfare.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of adolescents and their families.
- Qualifications: Professional qualification in Social Work or related field with experience in youth support.
The predicted salary is between 36450 - 44550 £ per year.
Make a Difference at a Critical Time in a Young Person's Life The Royal Borough of Greenwich is transforming the way we support children, young people, and families with our ambitious Families First in Greenwich programme.
We are seeking a skilled, ambitious, and relationship-focused Lead Practitioner to join our Adolescent Help Teams within the Adolescent Wellbeing and Safeguarding service.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced practitioner who is passionate about achieving better outcomes for adolescents and their families.
You will play a pivotal role in supporting young people facing complex challenges, strengthening family relationships, preventing escalation into statutory services, and helping families achieve sustainable change.
As a Lead Practitioner, you will combine direct practice with coaching, mentoring, and professional leadership responsibilities, helping to embed high-quality, evidence-informed interventions across the service.
About the Role
The Adolescent Help Team works with young people and families where there are emerging or escalating concerns predominantly around extra-familial risks and adolescent vulnerability.
Working within a strengths-based and systemic framework, you will undertake complex family work, complete Family Help Assessments, coordinate Family Help Plans, and support practitioners to deliver high-quality interventions that improve outcomes and reduce risk.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate interventions with children, young people, and families experiencing complex needs.
- Ensure families receive timely and effective support where there are concerns relating to extra familial harm and risk of family breakdown.
- Develop and oversee high-quality Family Help Plans that are focused on measurable outcomes and sustainable change.
- Work collaboratively with parents, carers, and wider family networks to ensure their voices shape planning and decision-making.
- Support families to identify strengths, build resilience, and develop solutions that promote children's wellbeing and safety.
- Manage a caseload of families requiring intensive support and intervention.
- Work closely with the Adolescent Help Team Leader to improve practice within the team.
- Model excellent practice and provide coaching, mentoring, and supervision to colleagues where required.
- Ensure all interventions are evidence-based, purposeful, and outcome-focused.
- Apply statutory guidance, local procedures, and safeguarding policies effectively and consistently.
- Work in partnership with Housing, Health, Education, Police, Community Safety, Adult Services, and other agencies to coordinate effective multi-agency plans.
- Use a range of evidence-informed approaches, including systemic and relational practice methodologies.
- Build effective, trusting relationships with children, young people, and their families.
- Ensure safeguarding concerns relating to children and vulnerable adults are addressed promptly and appropriately.
- Maintain accurate recording and high-quality case management.
About You
We are looking for someone who
- Holds a recognised professional qualification in Social Work, Youth Justice, Family Support, Early Help, or a related discipline.
- Has substantial experience working with adolescents and families facing multiple and complex challenges.
- Has robust knowledge of safeguarding, child development, parenting capacity, and adolescent development.
- Demonstrates experience of leading complex interventions and coordinating multi‑agency plans.
- Understands the impact of trauma, neglect, domestic abuse, substance misuse, and parental mental health on children and young people.
- Has experience of strengths‑based, systemic, restorative, or relationship-focused practice.
- Can confidently analyse risk, formulate plans, and measure outcomes.
- Possesses excellent communication, coaching, and partnership‑working skills.
- Is committed to anti‑discriminatory practice, inclusion, and delivering excellent services for Greenwich residents.
- Has the ability to support and develop the practice of less experienced colleagues.
What We Offer
At Greenwich, we are committed to creating an environment where practitioners can thrive and deliver their best work.
- A stable, supportive and ambitious leadership team.
- High‑quality learning and development opportunities.
- Access to reflective supervision and practice development.
- A strong commitment to systemic and relationship‑based practice.
- Flexible working arrangements where service needs allow.
- Generous annual leave entitlement.
- Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Employee wellbeing support and benefits package.
- Our Commitment
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
We expect all employees to share this commitment.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Diversity Statement
Royal Borough of Greenwich values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this.
We therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community.
Advert Close: All vacancies close at midnight unless otherwise stated.
- Early
- Advert
Close: Royal Borough of Greenwich reserves the right to close any job advert earlier than the advertised closing date where there is reason to do so (for example high volume of applications).
- Full
- Employment
History: A full employment history is required for this role.
Please provide a full employment history, together with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment.
Salary: Salaries advertised are for a standard working week of 35 hours unless otherwise stated. Please use this 'Salary Calculator to help you calculate a pro rata salary.
Our Staff Values are important to us.
Candidates will be continuously assessed against our staff values throughout the recruitment process.
Where candidates demonstrate views and behaviours that do not meet the standards of our staff values, we reserve the right to reject their application/ registration.
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Lead Practitioner - Adolescent Help Team B in Woolwich employer: Royal Greenwich
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is an excellent employer for a Legal Assistant, offering a diverse and challenging caseload that fosters professional development and career progression. With a supportive and collaborative team environment, flexible working arrangements, and a generous local government pension scheme, employees can thrive both personally and professionally while contributing to a community-focused organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Practitioner - Adolescent Help Team B in Woolwich
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Royal Greenwich.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Royal Greenwich!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Royal Greenwich, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Royal Greenwich or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Practitioner - Adolescent Help Team B in Woolwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Royal Greenwich:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Royal Greenwich! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Royal Greenwich
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
