Senior Social Worker – Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the front door of Children's Services, where you will play a crucial role in safeguarding children and promoting positive outcomes for families. Working within a dynamic multi-agency environment, you will be responsible for screening contacts and referrals, gathering and analysing information from partner agencies, and making timely, proportionate, and defensible decisions to ensure children receive the right support at the right time.

As a Senior Social Worker within MASH, you will work closely with colleagues from Police, Health, Education, Early Help, and other key partners to assess risk, identify safeguarding concerns, and contribute to effective decision-making regarding thresholds and service interventions. You will provide professional expertise and advice to agencies, promoting high-quality practice and ensuring that children's lived experiences remain at the centre of decision-making.

As a part of this role you will help embed a relationship-based, strengths-focused approach to practice, supporting clear risk analysis, balancing strengths and concerns, and contributing to effective safety planning. You will demonstrate professional curiosity, critical thinking, and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and families.

We are looking for an experienced and skilled social worker who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience in children's social care, with a strong safeguarding and child protection focus.
• Proven experience within a MASH, Front Door, Assessment, Duty, or Child Protection service.
• Strong knowledge and experience of screening referrals, information gathering, risk assessment, and threshold decision-making.
• The ability to analyse complex information and make timely, balanced, and defensible decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• A commitment to relationship-based and strengths-focused practice, recognising the importance of understanding children's lived experiences.
• Experience of working effectively within a multi-agency setting, building positive relationships with partners including Police, Health, Education, and Early Help services.
• Confidence in applying professional judgement and challenging appropriately to ensure the best outcomes for children.
• Sound knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, safeguarding procedures, and current developments in children's social care.
• Strong communication, assessment, and analytical skills, with the ability to produce clear and high-quality written records.
• A commitment to continuous professional development, reflective practice, and service improvement.
• The ability to manage competing demands effectively while maintaining high standards of practice.

This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled practitioner who is passionate about safeguarding children and enjoys working collaboratively within a fast-paced, multi-agency environment.

For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/Selection Criteria

About us

Harrow Council is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit with a range of cultures, religions and opinions that come together to produce high achieving schools and a close and friendly community. Located 10 miles from the city centre and just 13 minutes to Euston from Harrow & Wealdstone station there are great transport links via the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail service. It is easily accessible to the M1, M25 and A406.

Other information

Support for candidates visit:Harrow.gov.uk Our behavioural indicators roles below G11 and above G11 Here at Harrow Council, the vision is one of 'Working together to make a difference for Harrow' Please click here to view Harrow Council's benefits

Important Note

To deliver our commitment to equality of opportunity in service provision, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs at the London Borough of Harrow. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender, reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, or maternity unless a Genuine Occupational Qualification applies. As such, we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. For further information, please read our equality statement.

As a disability-confident employer, we are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and accessible to everyone. This includes reasonably adjusting the recruitment process for those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. For further information, please contact us at resourcing@harrow.gov.uk

London Borough of Harrow is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Harrow operates stringent, safer recruitment procedures.

Due to the high number of applications received for some posts, we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Harrow redeployees will be given priority consideration.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, any your data protection rights, can be found by visiting www.cifas.org.uk/fpn