Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities !
We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants
Introduction
An exciting opportunity is available as part of the DfE Pathfinder project. We are seeking an experienced social worker to become an Advanced Practitioner in one of the newly established Multi Agency Child Protection Teams.
What’s the role ?
This role will play a key part in the shaping and development of the team and is an exciting opportunity to influence social work practice on a local and national level. The successful candidate will be able to work effectively across the multi-agency partnership to ensure the safeguarding of children in Lewisham.
The Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams will be responsible for the following core areas of work:
The successful candidate will have considerable experience of working in frontline operational safeguarding practice and a thorough knowledge of child protection and PLO/court processes and accompanying legislation. You will be experienced in building effective working relationships with key partner agencies such as health, education and the police.
The Role
The Advanced Practitioner supports the Team Manager and will have responsibilities in working alongside members of the Family Help service where there are concerns regarding significant harm to children.
This is a crucial role which requires strong practice knowledge and experience, and a proactive approach to contribute to a positive team culture within a multi-agency staff group. The role will require you to work closely with other teams in children’s social care, developing and maintaining relationships with staff and our partner agencies.
About You
Those applying for this post will need to have
The person applying must have a thorough technical knowledge of the requirements of Working Together 2023, the Pan London Child Protection Procedures and other relevant safeguarding statutory guidance. A track record of working within practice improvement and an in depth understanding of the Signs of Safety practice framework are essential.
You will work alongside your team to promote and deliver the objective, that all children and young people in Lewisham are safe and reach their full potential.
You will need to be a skilled and reflective practitioner with a clear vision of what good practice with children and families looks like. You will be able to make effective decisions regarding children’s safety and use your skills to support change and improvement.
You will need to be a registered social worker and have recent proven frontline operational experience and be able to demonstrate your experience, skill, and ability to think strategically and embed the strategic objectives into operational practice. You will need to evidence reflective and creative practice.
A child focused approach is essential, ensuring that the views of Lewisham children are central to developing and delivering services.
Our Vision - What Good Children’s Social Work Looks Like in Lewisham
In Lewisham Children’s Social Care, we know what good social work looks like and we are passionate about creating the right conditions and culture for good practice to thrive.
Creating an Inclusive Lewisham
A core value of Lewisham Council is to 'draw on the diversity of our communities to create a more inclusive Lewisham'. We believe that freedom from discrimination and equality of opportunity are fundamental rights, and that each person should be valued regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, or age. Social inclusion lies at the heart of everything we do as a Council in our roles as an employer, a provider of services and a community leader.
What’s in it for you ?
Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:
What we’re looking for
If you want to work in a thriving borough and our social work vision connects with your professional values, then we are interested in hearing from you. We are looking for people to join our team who:
Location
The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.
Special conditions
The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CV’s.
Applicant handbook- please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.
Further information
For an informal discussion about the role and recruitment process, please email LewishamWorkforceDevelopmentGroup@lewisham.gov.ukwith your contact details and we will call you to discuss the role in more detail.
Lewisham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.
We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds
Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification
Salary
£56,436 - £58,551 per annum (SWLO/SCP 41-43)
N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.
Diversity
Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply
The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email JobsAndSkills@lewisham.gov.ukand an advisor will be in touch with you.
The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.
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Lewisham is a vibrant and culturally diverse borough. This reflected in all aspects of daily life, from the response to the pandemic where the community rallied to support our most vulnerable residents, to the 170 languages spoken in our homes, schools and businesses. We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.
As we plan ahead, we are working towards a fairer, greener, healthier and more economically sound future for all in Lewisham. This means continuing our efforts to tackle climate change for generations to come; ensuring that good health and wellbeing is equally accessible to everyone; and safeguarding local jobs and up-skilling residents with tools they need to succeed. Building on the community spirit and activism that has been so prevalent in recent years, we are committed to creating a Future Lewisham we can all have a part in.
