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We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Introduction

We’re looking for an experienced and dynamic Senior Social Worker to join our Family Help South Team, part of our innovative Family Help service. Our team provides intensive, multi‑disciplinary support to improve the safety and wellbeing of children whose parents or carers are impacted by drug or alcohol use—offering earlier, easier access to the right help and reducing the need for traditional child protection processes.

What’s the role?

As a Senior Social Worker, you’ll work creatively and collaboratively with children, young people and their families, using relational, trauma‑informed and strength‑based approaches. You’ll play a key role in delivering high‑quality interventions, coordinating multi‑agency support and contributing to reflective practice across the team.

What’s in it for you?

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

Generous holiday allowance
Local Government Pension scheme
Flexible working and family friendly policies
Season ticket and bicycle loans
A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for

Significant experience working with children and families
A reflective, innovative approach and commitment to anti‑racist, restorative practice
Ability to work under CIN, CP and legal frameworks
A minimum of 2 years post-qualifying Social Work practice and experience of managing a frontline safeguarding caseload  
Completing parenting assessments – or other assessments of parents regarding the safety and well-being of children for use in the Family Proceedings Court
Using the Signs of Safety practice framework to structure your assessments and interventions with families 
Completing family network meetings to achieve the safety and well-being of children  
Understanding of child protection processes, pre-proceedings and giving evidence in the Family Proceedings Court.

Location

The job is primarily based in Laurence House in Catford SE6. There are 2 local train stations 3-5 minutes’ walk from the office, and the train journey from London Bridge is approximately 15 minutes. There are also numerous bus routes that stop right by the office.

We operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

The post holder must have a social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
Must be 2 years post qualified Social Worker for this role
The job is subject to a DBS check (Enhanced)

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CVs.

Applicant handbook - 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.

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact FHCRecruitment@lewisham.gov.uk

Please click here for our Vision and Values

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification

Salary

£50,175 - £52,269 per annum (SCP 35-37 / SSW)

N.B: 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.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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Salary range

£50,175 - £52,269 per year