Job Description

Social Worker - Children in Care/LAC
£46,133- £57,194 (includes market supplement)
Newham Dockside E16 2QU – Hybrid role
Closing date - 30th September 2026

JOIN US AND HELP BUILD A FAIRER NEWHAM

We’re building a fairer Newham through investment, co-production and by continuously developing our Circle of Support practice model; centring on systemic and restorative practice and a specialist support offer for our practitioners. OFSTED described Newham's clinical team and social work academy as undoubtedly strengthening practice and contributing to a culture of learning and development.

• We have put more than 55 practitioners through further education since 2020 with 40 colleagues enrolled into further education in 2025.
• We have had over 70+ internal promotions, most colleagues from Global Majority backgrounds.
• 80%+ permanent staff across social care posts
• Over 80% permanent team managers

We value your development and at Newham career progression is a reality for many of our colleagues.

We understand that social work can be a challenging yet ultimately very rewarding profession that makes demands of you personally and professionally. In Newham we value your wellbeing and we aim to ensure that you have a better work/life balance through a remote working offer when you are not visiting children and families, a modern office space for when you’re on site, a flexible working policy where all requests are considered and a clinical offer to support you to do your best work.

ABOUT THE JOB

Social Work in Newham is underpinned by a culture of Systemic and Restorative practice with high quality relationships at the heart of our approach. Our Children in Care teams provide statutory services to children who are in our care and their families and support networks.

Social Workers in Children in Care provide Circles of Support around children to ensure their happiness and safety when Council is acting in its role as a corporate parent - working restoratively and using systemic tools and ideas and drive the development of a team culture where good practice can flourish to the benefit of all.

Working as a Children in Care Social Worker at Newham provides a unique development opportunity as the service handles the majority of court work relating to care proceedings. You will be fully supported in this by senior colleagues, an Assistant Team Manager and Team Manager in each team, Practice Development Social Workers, a comprehensive CP Chair service and our Clinical Team of experienced qualified Family Therapists.

We understand that social work can be a challenging yet ultimately very rewarding profession that makes demands of you personally and professionally. In Newham we value your wellbeing and we aim to ensure that you have a better work/life balance through a remote working offer when you are not visiting children and families, a modern office space for when you’re on site, a flexible working policy where all requests are considered, and a clinical offer to support you to do your best work.

ABOUT YOU

We welcome applications from qualified social workers of varying experience levels; though we do expect applicants to have completed their ASYE and have gained some experience within a service focused on supporting children in care (this must be clear on applicants’ CVs). A firm understanding of working with children in care and their families and support networks is essential and will need to be demonstrated at interview. Applicants must have a valid registration with Social Work England and experience of practice within the UK.

We’re looking for social workers who have a genuine interest in a restorative, relationship based practice model drawing on systemic thinking to inform your approach to building effective relationships with children, young people and their families.

We want to meet energetic, empathetic social workers that are keen to reach positive outcomes for children and families whilst taking full advantage of the learning, support and personal development that Newham offers. We’re big on career development and our focus on developing internal talent has made internal progression a realistic possibility for many – we promoted 30 qualified social work professionals in 2023 alone.

WHY WORK WITH US?

• A role in an 'Outstanding' local authority across all four areas of Ofsted's Inspection criteria
• A competitive salary package with a market supplement that rivals capped agency pay.
• Genuinely flexible/hybrid working; as long as children and families are supported and you can make a request for flexible working from day one of your employment with us.
• Stability: 100% of our Senior Managers are permanent.
• Our firmly established practice model, Circle of Support model was nominated for the prestigious MJ Award for Innovation in Children’s Services and allows systemic, restorative practice to flourish.
• Career progression is valued in Newham with an active Strategic Centre for Talent and Learning Team who work hard to shape strategies to inform career development.
• Social Care Academy – 50+ social workers have studied for systemic higher education with us since 2020. There are opportunities to train as a Practice Educator and opportunities to train in Systemic Practice to heighten your skill set. Clinical practitioners are attached to every team to support you individually and as a group with reflective supervision groups greatly valued by social workers. Our Academy offer received significant praise from Ofsted.
• A commitment to addressing disproportionality wherever we find it- we are signed up to the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard and the CYPS directorate are actively leading in the Tackling Racism, Inequality and Disproportionately (TRID) Steering Group.
• Oyster card/parking permit for business use.
• Wellbeing service, leisure and discount benefits.
• Travel season ticket loan, cycle scheme, Local Authority pension.

TO APPLY

To apply please submit your CV through our online recruitment portal Our maingrade social worker require a CV only application – so please ensure your CV has the relevant detail requested in this advert and on the person specification.

Shortlisting decisions will be based on candidates' relevant experience and on candidates' suitability for the role in line with the person specification, as listed in their CV. We’re currently looking for social workers who have completed their ASYE year (or have equivalent practice experience).

Please view JD here

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn

The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east. It is well connected by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.