Social Worker/ Senior Social Worker - First Response

Hillingdon Council; London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Hillingdon Council is seeking passionate and experienced Senior Social Workers to join their First Response teams. This role involves assessments to ensure the safety of children and support for families, as well as opportunities for personal and professional growth within children's services. With an Outstanding rating from OFSTED, this position offers the chance to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Benefits

Flexible Working Hours

36 Hour Week

Generous Holiday Entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Mental Health Support and Counselling Services

Qualifications

• At least 12 months' postgraduate experience post-qualification.
• Registered with Social Work England.
• Experience in a First Response or Assessment Team.

Responsibilities

• Assess and plan safety for families involved.
• Support and empower families with significant needs.
• Model good practice for developing social work careers.

Skills

Assessment Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Social Work Qualification

Job description

About the role

Are you passionate about making a difference in people's lives? Do you have the drive to support and empower individuals and families in need? If so, we want you to be part of our dedicated team!

Our First Response teams works alongside families and our partner agencies to reduce risk to the children in a timely way. We use Signs of Safety to help families recognise danger and use their own strengths to overcome dangers. We use evidence based practice tools to assist social workers in making recommendations. Senior managers share risk to ensure decisions are safe, balanced and in the child's best interest.

Social workers understand the complexity of risks to children and this is given significant consideration and analysis in multi-agency strategy meetings and risk assessments

Assessments and plans for our families are a significant strength and are of excellent quality.

About You

We are looking for Social Workers who have children’s rights inscribed in their hearts and children’s aspirations focused in their minds. We are looking for experienced, knowledgeable, skilled social workers who want to invest their energy into achieving better outcomes for our children and their families every day.

As a Senior Social worker, you will have substantial post-qualifying social work practice experience, which includes extensive knowledge and experience of working within an Assessment or Fist Response team. You will enable others to learn and develop in their social work career, by being a model of good practice, a strong team player and be able to work on your own initiative, taking responsibility for your case load.

You must have:

• A Social Work qualification.
• At least 12 months' postgraduate experience and completed your ASYE, where applicable.
• Be able to evidence a commitment to your own development since qualification.
• Previous experience working in a First Response or Assessment Team.
• In addition you must be registered with Social Work England.

Why Choose Us?

• Impactful Work: Every day, our social workers transform lives by providing essential support and resources to those in need.
• Professional Growth: We offer continuous training and development opportunities to help you grow in your career.
• Supportive Environment: Join a team that values collaboration, empathy, and mutual respect.
• Community Focused: Be a part of initiatives that strengthen and uplift our community.

Join Us Today!

If you are ready to make a positive impact, apply now. Together, we can build a stronger, more compassionate community.

You will embark on a rewarding career in Children Social Care with us, where excellence is not just a goal but a proven standard. We are proud to announce that our Children's Services have recently received anOutstanding rating from OFSTED, a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care and support for children and families.

About us

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
• Vivup Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
  

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject tothe following pre-employment screening:

• Enhanced DBS Check
• Qualifications Check
• Professional Registration Check
• 5 years of Referencing

Please note:Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.