Senior / Social Worker - Cared for Children

London Social Work for Children; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retention payment £2,250 p.a.

SWE registration fee reimbursed

Total package up to £56,169 p.a.

Job summary

Hillingdon Council seeks an experienced Senior/Social Worker for the Cared for Children service in Hillingdon. You will build strong, trauma-informed relationships with children and families, and manage multi-agency care plans to safeguard and support outcomes.

The role offers blended working patterns, DBS checks, and extensive professional development. Salary up to £56,169 plus retention payments; hybrid arrangements for a stable, supportive team.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England
• Committed to relationship-based and trauma-informed practice
• Driven to make a difference for children with strong multi-agency partnership-working
• Creative, curious, reflective and open to learning and improvement

Responsibilities

• Build meaningful, relationship-based practice with children, families and carers
• Contribute to a trauma-informed service with strong leadership support
• Lead and coordinate multi-agency care plans safeguarding children and enabling potential
• Access regular supervision, clinical supervision, reflective practice and professional development
• Undertake brief enquiries and Merton-compliant age assessments

Job description

Senior / Social Worker - Cared for Children

Posted 1st Sep, 2026

Location

Hillingdon

Working pattern

Full-time - 36 hours per week

Working arrangements

Blended

31st Oct, 2026

Incentives

This role is subject to a £2,250 retention payment per annum (applicable to both Social Worker & Senior SocialWorker grades), bringing the potential total package value up to £56,169 per annum. SWE registration fee is also reimbursed

About the role

Join Hillingdon's Outstanding Cared for Service. If you're passionate about building meaningful relationships with children and families and want to work somewhere you can truly make a difference, Hillingdon is the place for you.

Following a recent Ofsted Outstanding judgement, Hillingdon continues to invest in its workforce, creating the conditions for social workers to thrive. The Cared for Children’s Service works with children who are unable to remain at home and those who are unaccompanied children seeking asylum. Children are supported by a wide range of professionals, including a Multi-agency Psychology Service, virtual school, and participation and child's voice team. As a Social Worker in Hillingdon, no two days will be the same.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building meaningful, relationship-based practice with children, families, and carers
• Being part of the journey to becoming a fully trauma-informed service, supported by a strong and stable leadership team
• Leading and coordinating multi-agency care plans that safeguard children and enable them to reach their potential
• Accessing regular supervision, clinical supervision, reflective practice, and extensive professional development opportunities
• Being trained to undertake brief enquiries and Merton-compliant age assessments

About you

Hillingdon is looking for passionate, resilient, and forward-thinking Social Workers who are ready to make a real impact. The service welcomes applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds and is committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. The ideal candidate will:

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England
• Be committed to relationship-based and trauma-informed practice
• Be driven to make a difference for children, with a strong understanding of multi-agency partnership-working
• Be creative, curious, reflective, and always open to learning and improvement

Salary placement will be determined based on qualifications, skills, and experience. This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check, qualifications check, professional registration check, and five years of referencing. Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the essential criteria for the role. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable groups and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

About Hillingdon

At Hillingdon, our purpose is simple: to work alongside children, young people and families to help them feel safe, build on their strengths and achieve their potential. Through strong relationships, early support and collaborative working, we help create brighter futures for the communities we serve.

If you're looking for an Outstanding local authority where:

• Children are at the heart of every decision.
• Relationships matter.
• Families are partners in change.
• Learning and development are prioritised.
• Your wellbeing and career progression are supported.
• Your work has a genuine impact on children's lives.

then we'd love to hear from you.

We are looking to recruit experienced, qualified social workers, who are registered with Social Work England, to join our stable and committed Children's Services workforce.

Discover the benefits of a social work career, then browse London's social work jobs!