Senior social worker (Family Help)

Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Ealing Council is recruiting a Senior Social Worker in the Family Help service to lead high-quality practice, assess complex cases and support families. You will model restorative, trauma-informed approaches and mentor junior staff while ensuring best outcomes for children.

The role requires expert assessment, collaboration with multi-agency partners, and supervision of practice standards. We offer progression, training, and flexible hybrid working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with current Social Work England registration.
• ASYE completion.
• Significant post-qualifying experience in statutory Children's Social Care.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload across children in need, child protection, care, permanence and court work.
• Lead on challenging assessments, safeguarding inquiries and interventions.
• Provide professional guidance and mentoring to colleagues and students.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Multi-agency collaboration

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

Senior social worker Family Help

£50,676 to £56,058 pa (inclusive)

Grade 11 to 12

This is an exciting time to come and join us in Ealing. We are building our Family Help Service and are committed to implementing the social work reforms by testing, learning and listening to children, families and staff about what works.

We have successfully completed a pilot programme in one locality, where we have embedded family group meetings and family led decision making into our practice. Our Multi Agency Child Protection team are supporting staff through consultation and guidance to make better more confident decisions. These two strands of work have led to fewer children needing to be supported through Child Protection plans and more families being involved in their own plans.

We are now looking to expand the Families First approach to other areas and are recruiting to a number of senior social work posts.

You will be joining a supportive, child-centred service where high-quality practice is valued and professional development is prioritised. We have a well- developed continual learning and training offer led by our Principal Social Worker and Social Work Academy. Our senior managers are visible and actively involved in practice.

The Senior Social worker role

As a Senior Social Worker, you will use your skills and experience to work with families with intersecting needs, providing expert assessment, planning, intervention and support to children, young people and families

You will play a key leadership role within the team, modelling excellent social work practice which reflects the brighter futures model and supports less experienced colleagues. You will contribute to ideas and plans around practice improvement.

As a Senior Social Worker, you will:

• Manage a complex caseload involving children in need, child protection, children in care, permanence and court work
• Lead on the more challenging assessments, interventions and safeguarding enquiries
• Provide professional advice, guidance and mentoring to colleagues, students and less experienced social workers
• Chair Strategy Meetings, Standards of Care Meetings and other multi-agency forums as required
• Represent the Council confidently in court proceedings and other formal settings
• Promote high standards of practice through reflective supervision, coaching and quality assurance activity
• Work collaboratively with families and partner agencies to achieve positive, sustainable outcomes
• Contribute to service development, practice improvement initiatives and multi-agency projects
• Support Practice Managers and deputise when required.

About You

We are looking for passionate, creative and experienced social workers who are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and families.

You will have:

Essential

• A recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, Diploma or equivalent)
• Current registration with Social Work England
• Completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)
• Significant post-qualifying experience within statutory Children's Social Care
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and associated statutory guidance
• Experience of managing complex safeguarding and child protection cases
• Experience of completing assessments, reports, court statements and presenting evidence in court
• Strong analytical, assessment and decision-making skills
• Experience of effective multi-agency working and partnership collaboration
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and recording skills
• A commitment to restorative, relationship-based and trauma-informed practice.

Desirable

• Practice Educator qualification
• Experience mentoring, supervising or supporting other social workers, students or practitioners
• Experience of fostering, permanence or kinship assessment work
• Experience chairing complex professional meetings and deputising for managers.

Why Join Ealing?

At Ealing, we are committed to creating an environment where social workers can thrive. We offer:

• Manageable caseloads and strong management support
• Regular reflective supervision and professional development
• Career progression from Grade 11 to Grade 12 through our structured progression framework
• Access to high-quality learning and development opportunities
• A collaborative and supportive team culture
• The opportunity to shape and influence practice across an improving service
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.

If you are an experienced social worker looking to take the next step in your career and want to work in a borough that is committed to excellent practice and better outcomes for children, we would love to hear from you.

You must have the right to work in the UK. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage. We are not able to provide sponsorship for these positions.

It is an exciting time to join us, here at Ealing Council. If you would like to make a positive difference to our residents and borough, then we are looking forward to hearing from you.

Ealing Council is committed to creating good jobs and delivering on its connected communities’ agenda. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive.

We therefore welcome applications from all residents of the borough, we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are entering the employment market in the early stages of their career and mid-career professionals, who are currently underrepresented in Ealing’s workforce.

Please note all applications will be determined on merit.

Ealing Council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Ealing Council follows safer recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults. The post holder will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

This post is subject to Ealing Council's enhanced vetting process.

This role is deemed customer facing and as such you must have a command of spoken English which is sufficient to enable you to effectively perform the role. This requirement relates to Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016.

Closing date: Monday 2 November 2026