Social Worker (Assessment, Safeguarding & Corporate)

The Methodist Church in Britain; Walthamstow; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retention bonus up to £3,000

Flexible working arrangements

Mayor of London Good Work Standard

Job summary

London Borough of Waltham Forest is seeking five permanent full-time social workers to join the Assessment teams. The role involves assessing children's circumstances, planning interventions, and monitoring cases, with a requirement of at least one year post-qualifying experience in children and families.

The job includes safeguarding duties, liaising with partner agencies, and contributing to service quality and continuous professional development.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidelines and procedures for children in need and looked-after children.
• Ability to prioritise and work under pressure while maintaining quality.
• Adaptability to changes in service delivery and process.
• Strong verbal and written communication with colleagues and partners.
• Commitment to involving children, young people and families in the service.
• Teamwork with clear reporting to line manager and senior team members.

Responsibilities

• Assess children and families to determine interventions or referrals.
• Plan and deliver actions for cases and monitor progress.
• Assess more complex cases with guidance.
• Provide professional advice to colleagues and partner agencies.
• Liaise with internal and external services to coordinate support.
• Apply safeguarding requirements across duties.
• Advise on financial assessments for families.

Skills

Children in need knowledge

Child protection knowledge

Prioritising under pressure

Adaptable to change

Clear communication

Teamwork and reporting

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Five permanent full-time posts sit in the Assessment teams of London Borough of Waltham Forest children's services. The work centres on assessing children's circumstances to decide on intervention or referral, then planning, monitoring and reviewing cases. The post is aimed at social workers with at least a year's post-qualifying experience in children and families, and it carries a retention bonus. Visa sponsorship is not available, so candidates must already hold the right to work in the UK.

What the job involves

• Assess children and young people's circumstances and issues to decide on intervention or referral to the right service
• Plan and deliver interventions and actions for allocated cases, then monitor and review them
• Assess more complex cases, with guidance
• Give professional advice and guidance to colleagues and partner agencies supporting children and young people
• Liaise internally and externally with other agencies so children, young people and carers get support
• Apply safeguarding requirements within your area of responsibility in all duties
• Advise and support children and young people with financial assessments
• Develop your professional knowledge, skills and behaviours
• Follow all policies and procedures that apply to the job and understand why they exist

Registration & licences

• Continued registration with the professional body

Experience

• Social work experience or placement in a children and families setting, with at least one year's post-qualifying experience
• Service delivery that is culturally sensitive and responsive to a multi-cultural community
• Managing a quality service by meeting key performance indicators for service areas

Skills & knowledge

• Demonstrable knowledge of children in need, child protection and looked-after children, including legislation, guidance and procedures
• Prioritising and working effectively under pressure
• Responding agilely and effectively to change at any time
• Clear verbal and written communication, following through on required actions
• Commitment to the participation of children, young people and families, individually and at service level
• Working well within a team, with clear and regular reporting to line manager and senior team members

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check
• Right to work in the UK without sponsorship
• Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks
• Satisfactory declaration of interest
• Fluent spoken English for a public-facing role

Other

• Working flexible or unsocial hours at short notice in rare emergencies

Nice to have

• Understanding of the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and other relevant legislation, procedures and guidance for children and families
• Awareness of current issues in childcare policy and practice
• Commitment to the Council's Equal Opportunities Policy and responsibility for its practical application
• Understanding of, and compliance with, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

What’s offered

• Retention bonus of up to £3,000, subject to terms and conditions
• Time and active support from the service to make a difference
• Consideration of flexible working arrangements that suit personal circumstances
• Mayor of London Good Work Standard employer, covering fair pay, wellbeing, skills, progression and diversity