Senior Social Worker Safe Space 1 Job in United Kingdom Recruiting by Lewisham Council

Our Vision - What Good Children’s Social Work Looks Like in Lewisham

In Lewisham Children’s Social Care, we know what good social work looks like and we are passionate about creating the right conditions and culture for good practice to thrive.

We have taken a whole system approach to improving our services to children and young people in our borough using ‘Signs of Safety’ as our practice model. Ofsted recognised the progress we have made noting that:

In January , Ofsted's report lauds significant improvements in our children's services. Praised areas include strong leadership, high-quality support for families and children, and positive outcomes across all criteria. 

We are making progress but need passionate, creative and energetic social workers, managers and leaders to get us where we want to be. Could this be you?

Why choose Lewisham?  

“Lewisham has so much to offer any social worker. I feel supported, respected and valued every step of the way” (Social Worker).

Our social workers benefit from working in small, supportive teams with caseloads on average between - 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;

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 both ‘Step Up’ and traditional route students and social workers have the opportunity to become practice educators.

Creating an Inclusive Lewisham

A core value of Lewisham Council is to 'draw on the diversity of our communities to create a more inclusive Lewisham'. We believe that freedom from discrimination and equality of opportunity are fundamental rights, and that each person should be valued regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, or age. Social inclusion lies at the heart of everything we do as a Council in our roles as an employer, a provider of services and a community leader.

Location

mins south of London Bridge, we are based in two offices in Catford SE with mainline train stations - minutes’ walk from both offices and numerous bus routes that stop outside the offices. Whilst the service is primarily based in Laurence House, we operate a (/) hybrid working approach as determined by service requirements.

What we’re looking for

Lewisham is the London Borough of Culture and if you want to work in a thriving borough and our social work vision connects with your professional values, then we are interested in hearing from you. We are looking for people to join our team who:

In return, we’ll offer excellent development opportunities, plus a range of benefits that includes a career average pension scheme, paid parking on site for social workers and senior social workers, flexible working, a generous leave entitlement and the opportunity to make a real difference to our local community.

We have vacancies for senior social workers in our referral and assessment and family support and safeguarding services.

- please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed. 

Please click for the Job Description and Person Specification

Please click for the Letter from the Director

Please click for our Vision and Values

Salary details

£ , - £, per annum (SCP - )

All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.