Locum Safeguarding Senior Social Worker

Experienced / Senior Social Worker – FSCP Team

Brief Job Overview

 
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Senior Social Worker to join the Family Support and Child Protection (FSCP) Team at the London Borough of Lambeth. This locum position is ideal for a resilient, agile, and compassionate practitioner with a minimum of three years’ post-qualified experience. You will play a vital role in safeguarding children, supporting families, and promoting stability and positive change across the borough.  

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake complex assessments and casework with children and families in need, ensuring timely and proportionate interventions.
• Work directly with children, parents, and partner agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
• Develop, implement, and review care and support plans that achieve sustainable positive outcomes.
• Prepare analytical and evidence-based reports for child protection conferences, court proceedings, and care planning meetings.
• Contribute to team discussions, reflective supervision, and regular caseload reviews to ensure consistent quality and manageable workloads.
• Work collaboratively within the FSCP team to deliver child-focused interventions and respond to emerging challenges with professionalism and empathy.
• Champion best practice and continuous improvement in children’s social care.

About You

 
You are a confident and compassionate social work professional with at least three years’ post-qualified experience in children’s services. You bring resilience, flexibility, and a commitment to achieving meaningful change for children and families. You are adaptable, responsive, and thrive in a dynamic, high-performing environment where teamwork and reflective practice are valued.  

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Minimum of three years’ post-qualified experience within children’s social care, ideally in family support or child protection.
• Ability to attend the office at least twice per week as part of hybrid working arrangements.
• Strong assessment, planning, and report-writing skills, with a sound understanding of safeguarding legislation.
• Proactive, flexible, and able to respond quickly to the demands of frontline practice.
• Committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based social work that improves outcomes for children and families.

Contract & Salary

• Job Type: Locum
• Location: London Borough of Lambeth
• Team: Family Support and Child Protection (FSCP)
• Contract Length: Ongoing
• Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
• Working Pattern: Hybrid – minimum two days per week in the office
• Working Hours: Full-time

What We Offer

• Accessible, stable, and visible leadership across Children’s Services.
• Assured TOIL (Time Off in Lieu) and flexible working arrangements agreed with line managers.
• Work-life balance prioritised alongside service needs.
• Comprehensive induction programme via the Lambeth Social Care Academy.
• Agile IT systems supporting efficient, flexible working from any location.
• Centralised resource support to allow more time for direct work with families.
• Regular and supportive case and personal supervision.
• Caseloads capped at approximately 15 children with regular reviews.
• Risk-sharing culture supported through regular panels and meetings chaired by senior managers.
• Free training via the Lambeth Social Work Academy for both agency and permanent staff.
• Career development opportunities across multiple services (subject to eligibility and compliance).
• Strong partnerships with Contextual Safeguarding Teams, Court Teams, Early Help Services, and community-based organisations.

How to Apply

 
If you are an experienced, committed, and resilient Social Worker ready to bring positive change and stability to the lives of children and families in Lambeth, we’d love to hear from you.  
Please apply using the form on the page.