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Senior Social Work Practitioner – Children’s Services

Brief Job Overview

 
We are seeking an experienced and confident Senior Social Work Practitioner to join Children’s Services at the London Borough of Redbridge on a 3-month locum contract. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled social worker to take on a senior frontline role, providing leadership, guidance, and expert practice support to colleagues, while managing a complex caseload that promotes the safety, stability, and wellbeing of children and families.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of complex and high-need cases, providing sound professional judgement and high-quality social work interventions.
• Offer mentoring, advice, and practice guidance to social workers within the team, supporting their professional growth and case development.
• Undertake detailed assessments and develop effective care and protection plans for children and families in line with statutory responsibilities.
• Lead or contribute to Child Protection (CP), Child in Need (CIN), and Looked After Children (LAC) work, ensuring high-quality service delivery and compliance with legislation.
• Prepare clear, analytical reports and court statements that reflect robust professional analysis and evidence-based recommendations.
• Work collaboratively with health, education, and partner agencies to ensure children’s needs are met through multi-agency planning and intervention.
• Participate in strategy meetings, case discussions, and supervision, offering reflective input and professional expertise.
• Promote good practice, supporting continuous improvement and quality assurance across the service.

About You

 
You are an experienced and reflective social worker with a strong understanding of statutory children’s services. You bring confidence, leadership, and the ability to model good practice while managing complex cases. You are committed to improving outcomes for children and families and can balance high professional standards with empathy and resilience in a demanding environment.

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Extensive post-qualified experience within children’s social care, ideally in safeguarding, assessment, or permanence work.
• Proven ability to manage complex caseloads and undertake high-level assessments.
• Experience mentoring or supervising social work colleagues and contributing to team learning and development.
• In-depth understanding of the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children, and other relevant legislation.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with a range of professionals and partner agencies.
• Strong commitment to reflective practice and continuous professional development.

Contract & Salary

• Job Type: Locum
• Location: London Borough of Redbridge
• Service Area: Children’s Services
• Contract Length: 3 months
• Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
• Working Hours: Full-time
• Working Pattern: Hybrid / Office-based as required

How to Apply

 
If you are an experienced and dedicated Senior Social Work Practitioner seeking to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families within Redbridge, we’d love to hear from you.  
Please apply using the form on the page.