Experienced Social Workers (Various Teams)

Services: Access and Assessment, Safeguarding and Corporate Parenting 

PO3 £44,862 rising in annual increments to £48,063 pa incl. LW

Permanent / Full Time / Hybrid working

Can you help positively shape and develop the lives of children in Lambeth?

Does the sound of joining a friendly, compassionate, positive, and supportive social work team appeal to you?

Would you like to join a council that invest in developing our Social Workers through a clear progression pathway which is aligned with our learning and development training delivered through our ambitious Lambeth Social Care Academy?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

We are looking to recruit full time experienced Social Workers to join our children’s social work teams and help play a key role in achieving positive outcomes for children and their families in Lambeth!

In return for your hard work, skills, knowledge and experience, you will receive:

• A competitive starting salary of £44,862 pa that rises to a maximum of £48,063 pa
• A £1,000 welcome payment, and after 12 months
• A £1,000 pa market supplement (all Social Work teams) 
• A £1,500 pa retention allowance (Assessment, Safeguarding and Court only)
• Progression opportunities into team-based Advanced Practitioner, Practice Development and Consultant Social Worker posts (earning up to £54,135 pa)
• Flexible working opportunities with hybrid working and top of the range technology
• A manageable caseload (which is below the inner London average)
• A fantastic, modern working environment in the award-winning Civic Centre building
• 27 days of annual leave (rising to 33 days for those with continuous service of more than five years)
• Access to a comprehensive benefits package

Our vision

Our Children’s Services is delivering against a bold ambition for Lambeth’s future, focusing on achieving the best possible outcomes for our children and young people.  We are dedicated to creating an environment where social work practice can thrive, where Social Workers are encouraged to be innovative and creative to ensure the services we offer to children and families helps improves their lives.

“Lambeth – a borough with social and climate justice at its heart. By harnessing the power and pride of our people and partnerships, we will proactively tackle inequalities so that children and young people can have the best start in life and so everyone can feel safe and thrive in a place of opportunity” Lambeth Borough Plan 2023.

In Lambeth we put children and their families at the heart of practice, and practice at the heart of all that we do. Our new Borough Plan has social justice at the centre and a clear vision for improving outcomes for our children and families.

We are working at pace to create the conditions for effective social work to flourish and for all our children to receive a good service. We are clear on the challenges we face and have the courage and vision to deliver improvements. Following our inspection in 2022 Ofsted recognised the momentum and investment in Children’s Services.

We are recruiting qualified social workers for the following teams below:

Cooperate Parenting Service

• Children Looked After Team (CLA)
• Fostering Team (FT)
• 16 plus Independence Team (IT)

Access and Assessments Service

• Children Assessment Team (CAT)

Safeguarding Service

• Family Support & Child Protection Team (FSCP)
• Children with Disabilities Team (CWD) 
• Court Team (CT)

About the role

You will provide high quality statutory social work services to children, young people and their families/carers to ensure an environment which safeguards and promotes their welfare and enables children wherever possible to remain within their family and community.

About you

As an Experienced Social Worker, you will provide an environment where your practice will flourish to contribute to positive outcomes for our children and young people.  You will work within small friendly teams, have a manageable caseload, and be provided with strong learning resources. You will also receive extra personal support from an advanced practitioner, bespoke learning and development and excellent post-qualifying opportunities through the Lambeth Social Care Academy.

Lambeth is on an improvement journey to excellence and your experience will contribute to lasting transformation through team spirit, leading by example and sharing your expertise.  

To be considered for interview, you will:

• Have a relevant social work qualification (Social Work England)
• Have passed your ASYE year (please note we run a separate program for newly qualified Social Workers)
• Have compassion and an understanding of the needs of children and families
• Have knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance and practices 
• Be an excellent communicator

For an informal chat, please contact Rina Wood, Principal Social Worker by email at rwood@lambeth.gov.uk.

How to apply:

Interested? Click on the apply button and complete an on-line application, explicitly evidencing in the supporting statement field how you meet the shortlist criteria marked with an ‘A’ at shortlist stage.

Please note we operate an anonymised application process. If you are uploading your CV or a personal statement, please remove your personal details and replace these with your unique candidate application number.

Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information about the DBS can be found at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs 

You will also be required to undertake a Cifas check.  Further information about Cifas can be found here www.cifas.org.uk.

We are a Stonewall diversity champion; a Living Wage Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role. Please click here for a full list of our accreditations.

Job Description and Person Specification

Recruitment timelines:

Closing date: This is a rolling campaign, when we fill all our positions this advert will close.

Shortlisting date/s: Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing weekly basis
Interview date/s: To be confirmed 

Lambeth aims for quality services and equal opportunities for all and is committed to safer recruitment.