Senior Social Worker

My Social Work News; London; On-site; GBP 1,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading social work agency seeks a Senior Social Worker for the Safeguarding Team in Lewisham. This role involves managing complex child protection cases, providing mentorship, and offering flexible working hours. With a competitive hourly rate, the position promotes professional development and supports a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Travel reimbursement

Professional development access

Flexible working hours

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker with 3+ years post-qualified experience.
• Strong understanding of legislation, policies, and safeguarding procedures.
• Proven ability to manage complex caseloads.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex and high-risk cases in a multidisciplinary team.
• Undertake Section 47 enquiries and lead strategy discussions.
• Provide mentoring and informal supervision to junior staff.

Skills

Complex case management

Decision making

Inter-agency collaboration

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

Senior Social Worker – Safeguarding Team

Location: Lewisham, London
Hourly Rate: £39.16
Contract Type: Locum, Ongoing
Working Pattern: Full-Time or Part-Time

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker to join the Safeguarding Team in Lewisham. This is an excellent opportunity to take the lead on complex safeguarding and child protection cases while working in a vibrant, well-connected borough. With a competitive hourly rate of £39.16 and flexible working options, this role offers both professional challenge and personal balance.

Flexible Working: Choose from full-time or part-time hours to match your availability and lifestyle.

Professional Development: Access continuous training, reflective supervision, and career progression support.

Collaborative Environment: Work in a multidisciplinary team that promotes shared learning and strong inter-agency collaboration.

Travel Reimbursement: Receive compensation for work-related travel to ensure cost-effective field engagement.

Networking & Growth: Expand your professional network by working with diverse colleagues and agencies.

Key Responsibilities

Manage a reduced caseload of complex and high-risk cases, including long-term child protection, court proceedings, and multi-agency interventions.

Undertake Section 47 enquiries, lead strategy discussions, and ensure robust risk assessments and safeguarding plans are in place.

Provide mentoring and informal supervision to ASYEs, students, and less experienced social workers, fostering team development.

Prepare and deliver high-quality court documentation, including care plans, viability assessments, and witness statements. Represent the local authority in court.

Build and maintain effective multi-agency relationships with professionals across health, education, law enforcement, and the voluntary sector.

Promote and model excellent social work practice, ensuring compliance with legal, ethical, and local policy frameworks.

Actively participate in supervision, peer reviews, and service development to support continuous improvement across the team.

Qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England.

Minimum of 3 years’ post-qualified experience, including experience in statutory child protection and court work.

Strong understanding of relevant legislation, policies, and safeguarding procedures.

Proven ability to manage complex caseloads and support professional development within a team.

Confident communicator, skilled in analysis, decision-making, and multi-agency working.

Why Lewisham?

Lewisham offers a vibrant, multicultural environment with excellent transport links, affordable housing, and a strong sense of community. The borough is committed to continuous improvement in children’s services, making it a supportive and inspiring place to work in safeguarding.

Working with Sanctuary Personnel

Sanctuary Personnel is an award-winning, trusted social work recruitment agency with over 1,000 ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot reviews. We are dedicated to securing roles that match your expertise and delivering top rates for your experience.

Apply today and make a lasting impact as a Senior Social Worker in Lewisham’s Safeguarding Team – where your skills and leadership truly matter.

Apply Now

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