For roles in our Assessment & Intervention and Safeguarding & Family Support teams, we are offering for a time limited period a Welcome Payment of £3000 for joining Southwark, followed by a retention payment of £2400 per year for your first two years, and £3600 after three years.
We are currently seeking outstanding Team Managers with exemplary leadership qualities, to join our Assessment & Intervention Service, who can share our commitment to improving outcomes for all children and young people and tackling injustice, inequality and racism.
Your vital role will be to:
Shape and influence the practice system and service development by sharing practice knowledge, expertise, data and research findings
Create a working environment that develops excellent and confident practitioners
Champion a CPD-led culture, with impressive training, learning and research opportunities
Be on hand to ensure the delivery of a social work service that’s highly responsive and relationship-based
Manage relationships with partners and agencies, and represent the council at multi-agency meetings
You’ll bring:
A track record of professional leadership, with accountability for practice and people development
Impressive experience of direct, complex social work with children and families
Knowledge and understanding of child development, parenting capacity, environmental issues, and risk and protective factors
The ability to lead service improvements and embed best practice
Knowledge of best practice for assessment and care planning, and understanding of and commitment to the approaches within Southwark’s practice framework: systemic practices including Signs of Safety, restorative practices, and trauma/attachment-informed approaches including Secure Base
This is an excellent opportunity to shine in an ambitious, well-resourced, well-regarded and stable social care environment.
We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse and growing population.
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities.  Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.
At Southwark Children’s Services, we pride ourselves on doing our vital job differently. Our systemic, holistic, family-centred approach sits at the core of our values. And our endlessly supportive, collective, culture underpins everything we do to protect vulnerable children across our borough.
Southwark is a great place to grow and develop as a social worker. We continue to provide fantastic career progression opportunities. Supported by great partnerships and resources we are always growing and developing what we do through innovation, investment in our workforce and, most importantly, listening to children and families, and those that work with them.
Our offer to staff includes:
competitive remuneration packages
the opportunity to work in a vibrant borough in the heart of London with excellent access to Central London and easy transport links to the South East
a multi-cultural and diverse working environment, which provides excellent opportunities for enhancing your skills
modern digital plan with technology to support flexible working arrangements
professional development and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities through an established and extensive learning and development plan and opportunities.
opportunities to train as a Practice Educator and develop experience with student
clinical practitioners attached to every team to support you as an individual and your work with children and families.
culture of innovation and a ‘can do’ approach to problem solving in Social Care
stable, supportive leadership; Southwark has a lower ratio of workers to managers than most local authorities
small teams with supportive managers and manageable caseload
travel season ticket loans, cycle scheme, essential user care parking permits and local government pension
family friendly, flexible and agile working, from home or on-site
wellbeing programme, HSF Health plan and eye care scheme, EAP employee assistance programme, confidential counselling and support, and access to subsidised HSF health plan
If you are interested in having an informal discussion about this role, or working in children’s social care in Southwark, please contact Dan Comach, our Principal Social Worker at daniel.comach@southwark.gov.uk