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Senior Social Worker – Children’s Services (Southwark Council)

Job Overview

We are recruiting an experienced **Senior Social Worker (Qualified Social Worker – QSW)** to join the **Southwark Council Children’s Services team**. This role focuses on managing complex safeguarding cases, supporting vulnerable children and families, and providing professional guidance to less experienced colleagues to ensure high-quality practice.

As a Senior Social Worker, you will take responsibility for leading on challenging casework, mentoring staff, and ensuring children’s voices are central to planning and decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Lead on complex child protection and safeguarding cases.

Undertake statutory assessments under the Children Act to identify risks, needs, and strengths.

Develop, implement, and review care and protection plans that promote positive outcomes.

Provide professional guidance, mentoring, and informal supervision to junior and newly qualified social workers.

Prepare and present evidence-based reports for child protection conferences, statutory reviews, and court proceedings.

Build positive, supportive relationships with children, families, and carers.

Collaborate with schools, health professionals, police, and voluntary organisations to deliver coordinated multi-agency support.

Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant case recording in line with legislation and Southwark Council policies.

Contribute to reflective supervision, team learning, and service development initiatives.

About You

You are a confident and resilient social worker with substantial post-qualification experience in children’s services. You are skilled at managing complex safeguarding cases, providing professional guidance, and ensuring children remain at the centre of all decisions.

Requirements

Qualified Social Worker (QSW) with registration to **Social Work England**.

Extensive post-qualification experience in Children’s Services.

Proven ability to manage complex safeguarding and child protection cases.

Experience of mentoring, coaching, or supporting colleagues.

Excellent knowledge of child protection legislation, statutory frameworks, and best practice.

Strong communication, assessment, and report-writing skills.

Contract & Salary

Employer: **Southwark Council**

Service: Children’s Services

Contract type: Full-time, locum/temporary contract via Tripod Partners

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

How to Apply

If you are an experienced Qualified Social Worker ready to take on a Senior role within Southwark Council’s Children’s Services, we would like to hear from you. Please **apply using the form on the page**.