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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 children and families, and mentoring colleagues to ensure safe, effective, and high-quality practice.

As a Senior Social Worker, you will take on challenging casework, provide professional support to less experienced staff, and work collaboratively with families and partner agencies to deliver positive outcomes for children and young people.

Key Responsibilities

Lead on complex child protection and safeguarding cases.

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

Develop, implement, and review child-focused care and protection plans.

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

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

Build positive and supportive relationships with children, young people, and their families.

Work collaboratively with schools, health professionals, police, and voluntary organisations to deliver coordinated support.

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

Contribute to reflective supervision, peer learning, and continuous service improvement.

About You

You are a confident and resilient social worker with significant post-qualification experience in children’s services. You are skilled at handling complex safeguarding cases, guiding colleagues, and ensuring that children’s voices are central to decision-making.

Requirements

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

Extensive post-qualification experience within 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 assessment, communication, and report-writing skills.

Contract & Salary

Employer: **Southwark Council**

Service: Children’s Services

Role: Senior Social Worker (Qualified Social Worker)

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**.