At a Glance
- Tasks: Make a positive impact on children's lives through safeguarding and family support.
- Company: Join a dedicated team in Southwark focused on vulnerable children and families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, welcome and retention payments, professional development, and flexible working.
- Other info: Supportive environment with diverse training opportunities and clear career pathways.
- Why this job: Empower children and families while making a real difference in your community.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with current registration and experience in child protection.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about making a positive difference in children's lives in Southwark? If yes, we have the perfect role for you! We are looking to recruit social workers for our Safeguarding & Family Support Service and help play a key role in ensuring children in Southwark are safe and happy at home. If you're a qualified social worker with a passion for empowering children and families, we want to hear from you!
This role is full time, 36 hours per week.
About us:
Our Children's Services is dedicated to providing outstanding support to vulnerable children and families in Southwark. Our systemically-informed, relationship-based approach prioritises the needs of each child, working purposefully with families to manage risk, promote positive outcomes, and create lasting change. Our most recent Ofsted inspection was graded as 'good' in all areas. The children in our care said we are a "special council and are like a family to them".
About the team:
You will be joining a friendly team of dedicated professionals who share your passion for positive outcomes for children and families. We want you to thrive in your role whilst being supported through regular one to one and group supervisions alongside having access to key development and training opportunities to grow as a social worker.
About the role:
We aspire to keep your caseloads manageable, allowing you to dedicate your full attention to the children and families who need it most. As a Social Worker or Senior Social Worker, you will:
- Build positive relationships and work directly with children, their families and partner agencies - all under the guidance of our experienced Team Managers.
- Run child in need and child protection plans, tailored to each child's unique needs and be the driving force behind positive change.
- Experience of CP, CIN and Court work.
About you:
- Current registration with Social Work England and a recognised social work qualification.
- Have passed your ASYE year.
- Ability to build positive relationships.
- Have knowledge of childcare legislation, child development, and risk/protective factors.
- Experience in direct social work interventions, investigations, assessments, and care planning.
- Ability to produce high-quality reports and manage complex information.
- Strong communication, analytical, and decision-making skills.
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory practices and promoting equality.
How we can support you:
We have a diverse range of training courses, practitioners and teams to help support you so you can provide the best outcomes. We have Family Support Workers, a Keeping Families Together team, a Parenting Assessment Team that conducts specialised court assessments and a SWIFT / clinical service that specialises in delivering intensive therapeutic services to families. We also have Practice Group Coordinators offer administrative support, including providing training on our database.
Pay and rewards:
In return for all your hard work, skills and experience, you will receive:
- A competitive base salary.
- For roles in our Assessment & Intervention and Safeguarding & Family Support teams, we are offering for a time limited period a Welcome Payment of £2,500 for joining Southwark, followed by a retention payment of £3,000 per year for your first two years, and £4,000 after three years.
- Strong supportive senior management team.
- Regular one to one supervision.
- Professional development & training opportunities.
- Clear career development pathways.
- Agile and flexible working arrangements.
Contact details:
If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact Antoinette Johnson via email.
Recruitment timeline:
Advert close date: We will be reviewing applications on a weekly basis. Interview date/s: we have weekly interview slots available. The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
Guaranteed interview scheme:
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.
Children\'s Social Worker Safeguarding & Family Support Service in City of London employer: Southwark Council
Join our dedicated team at Southwark's Children's Services, where your passion for making a positive impact on children's lives will be fully supported. We offer a nurturing work culture with manageable caseloads, competitive salaries, and generous retention payments, alongside extensive professional development opportunities to help you thrive in your social work career. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, we ensure that every voice is heard and valued, making Southwark an exceptional place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Children\'s Social Worker Safeguarding & Family Support Service in City of London
✨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 Southwark Council.
✨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 Southwark Council!
✨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 Southwark Council, 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 Southwark Council 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 Children\'s Social Worker Safeguarding & Family Support Service in City of London
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 Southwark Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Southwark Council! 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 Southwark Council
✨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.
