Description
This is an exciting time to join the London Borough of Ealing's Family Help Service, where you will play a key role in implementing social work reforms. The service has successfully piloted a new approach, embedding family group meetings and family-led decision making, resulting in fewer children needing Child Protection plans and more families involved in their own plans.
As a Senior Social Worker, you will work with families with intersecting needs, providing expert assessment, planning, intervention, and support to children, young people, and families. You will lead on challenging assessments, interventions, and safeguarding enquiries, and provide professional advice, guidance, and mentoring to colleagues.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing a complex caseload involving children in need, child protection, children in care, permanence, and court work
- Leading on challenging assessments, interventions, and safeguarding enquiries
- Providing professional advice, guidance, and mentoring to colleagues, students, and less experienced social workers
- Chairing Strategy Meetings, Standards of Care Meetings, and other multi-agency forums as required
- Representing the Council confidently in court proceedings and other formal settings
- Promoting high standards of practice through reflective supervision, coaching, and quality assurance activity
- Working collaboratively with families and partner agencies to achieve positive, sustainable outcomes
- Contributing to service development, practice improvement initiatives, and multi-agency projects
- Supporting Practice Managers and deputising when required
The successful candidate will have:
- A recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, Diploma or equivalent)
- Current registration with Social Work England
- Completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)
- Significant post-qualifying experience within statutory Children's Social Care
- Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and associated statutory guidance
- Experience of managing complex safeguarding and child protection cases
- Experience of completing assessments, reports, court statements, and presenting evidence in court
- Strong analytical, assessment, and decision-making skills
- Experience of effective multi-agency working and partnership collaboration
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and recording skills
- A commitment to restorative, relationship-based, and trauma-informed practice
In return, Ealing offers:
- Manageable caseloads and strong management support
- Regular reflective supervision and professional development
- Career progression from Grade 11 to Grade 12 through a structured progression framework
- Access to high-quality learning and development opportunities
- A collaborative and supportive team culture
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
The salary for this role is GBP 50,676 - 56,058 per year.