Senior Social Worker-Children & Young people Service

Role: Senior Social Worker

Location: London Borough Of Hillingdon

Team: Child Protection

Pay: Up to £38.50 ph

Contract: Full-time Locum

In the office: Hybrid

OFSTED: Outstanding

About the Role
At Hillingdon, we are dedicated to putting our residents first, striving to provide exceptional services for children, families, and young people. As a Senior Social Worker on our Child Protection Team, you will play an instrumental role in delivering services that safeguard children and ensure family well-being. With a focus on ‘Putting Our Residents First,’ this role offers the opportunity to work in a large, diverse borough with a dynamic team.

The ideal candidate will bring resilience, experience, and a collaborative approach, supporting vulnerable children while mentoring and supervising aspiring social workers. Using your expert knowledge and skills, you will assess and manage risk, formulate effective safety plans, and lead systemic and solution-focused interventions. You will have access to Hillingdon’s resources, including specialist assessments and therapeutic interventions, to help families achieve sustainable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a complex social work caseload with high levels of autonomy, including safeguarding cases.

• Conduct welfare visits and child and family assessments, including for children settled in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

• Collaborate with inter-agency partners (e.g., police, health workers, voluntary organizations) to address and resolve family issues.

• Provide expert advice and supervision to other social workers, supporting their development in risk management and reflective practice.

• Prepare detailed reports for court proceedings, and provide expert testimony as needed.

• Maintain accurate, confidential case records and comply with data protection protocols.

• Support families at risk of homelessness and/or destitution, including those with no recourse to public funds, in partnership with the Housing Needs and Children’s Finance Team.

• Use frameworks for assessment and intervention, with a strong emphasis on the safety, development, and rights of children.

The Ideal Candidate:

We are looking for a qualified social worker with:

• Experience: At least 3 years of post-qualification experience, particularly in Child Protection, with a proven ability to manage high-risk cases.

• Skills: Critical thinking, resilience, and strong leadership skills, with a proactive, evidence-based approach.

• Attributes: A commitment to collaboration, a strong sense of accountability, and the ability to mentor and coach junior staff effectively.

• Qualifications: Registered with Social Work England, holding a relevant social work degree or equivalent.

What We Offer:

As part of our commitment to your growth and well-being, we provide:

• Professional Development: Access to Hillingdon’s Social Work Academy for training and development, including senior management training opportunities.

• Supportive Supervision: Regular supervision sessions to enhance critical reflection and support professional development.

• Flexible Working: Hybrid working arrangements, a smartphone, and laptop provided for remote work.

• Vibrant Work Environment: Join a supportive community with initiatives such as a choir, yoga sessions, grief support groups, and a bike safety scheme.

• Stability and Support: Be part of a stable Senior Management Team dedicated to fostering a collaborative, no-blame culture.

Why choose Sheldon Phillips to find your next role? It's simple: we're not pushy or overly persistent. We understand that you want to be heard. Our priority is to proactively seek the roles you desire, not just the ones that benefit us financially.

Our success comes from making your job search our top priority.

Interested in learning more about the Senior Social Worker role in London? Contact Rhys Rafferty at 01635 226350.

Plus, refer a friend to us, and if we place them, you'll receive a generous £300 referral bonus (terms and conditions apply).