Locum Safeguarding Qualified Social Worker
Ilford, Essex
Community Social Worker – Placement Officer
Brief Job Overview
We are seeking an organised and proactive Community Social Worker to work as a Placement Officer within the London Borough of Redbridge. This is a 3-month locum contract for a qualified social worker who will support the placement and review of children and young people in care, ensuring that all placements meet quality standards, provide safety, and promote stability and wellbeing.
You will play a key role in monitoring, reviewing, and improving the quality of both internal and out-of-borough placements, working closely with accommodation providers, social work teams, and partner agencies.
Key Responsibilities
- Attend and contribute to accommodation panels, providing professional input and recommendations on placement suitability.
- Conduct placement reviews for children and young people placed outside of the borough, ensuring their needs continue to be met effectively.
- Support the team with internal placement reviews as required, promoting quality assurance and best practice across all settings.
- Undertake placement spot checks to ensure that standards of care, safety, and compliance are consistently maintained.
- Work collaboratively with social work teams, carers, providers, and external agencies to address any issues identified through review or monitoring processes.
- Ensure accurate documentation and reporting of all reviews, visits, and monitoring activity in line with council policies and procedures.
- Promote placement stability by identifying areas for improvement and escalating concerns where necessary.
- Contribute to service development and policy discussions around placement sufficiency, safety, and quality improvement.
About You
You are a qualified and experienced social worker with strong organisational, analytical, and communication skills. You have a sound understanding of placement management, care planning, and quality assurance processes. You bring a child-centred approach, a commitment to safeguarding, and the ability to build strong relationships with providers and professionals alike.
Requirements
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
- Experience in children’s social care, particularly within placements, commissioning, or looked after children (LAC) services.
- Knowledge of placement review processes, panel work, and care planning frameworks.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage professional relationships effectively.
- Strong report-writing and analytical skills.
- Commitment to ensuring placements meet safeguarding and quality assurance standards.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment.
Contract & Salary
- Job Type: Locum
- Location: London Borough of Redbridge
- Role: Placement Officer – Community Social Work
- 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 detail-oriented Social Worker with a passion for improving placement quality and outcomes for children and young people, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply using the form on the page.