Locum Child Protection Senior Social Worker
London, Greater London
Senior Social Worker – Children’s Services (London Borough of Lambeth)
Job Overview
We are recruiting an experienced **Senior Social Worker (Qualified Social Worker – QSW)** to join the **London Borough of Lambeth Children’s Services team**. This role focuses on managing complex safeguarding cases, mentoring colleagues, and ensuring the highest standards of social work practice are delivered to children and families.
As a Senior Social Worker, you will take responsibility for leading on complex casework, supporting less experienced social workers, and working in partnership with families and multi-agency professionals to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing.
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 mentoring, guidance, and professional support to junior and newly qualified social workers.
Prepare and present evidence-based reports for child protection conferences, statutory reviews, and court proceedings.
Work directly with children, young people, and families to build positive, trusting relationships.
Collaborate with schools, health services, police, and voluntary organisations to deliver coordinated support.
Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant case recording in line with legislation and Lambeth Council policies.
Contribute to reflective supervision, team learning, and continuous service improvement.
About You
You are a confident and resilient social worker with strong post-qualification experience in children’s services. You are skilled at managing complex safeguarding cases, guiding colleagues, and ensuring children remain at the heart of practice and decision-making.
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.
Strong knowledge of child protection legislation, statutory frameworks, and best practice.
Excellent communication, assessment, and report-writing skills.
Contract & Salary
Employer: **London Borough of Lambeth**
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 the London Borough of Lambeth’s Children’s Services, we would like to hear from you. Please **apply using the form on the page**.