Senior Social Worker – Safeguarding Team | Croydon Council

Location: Croydon, South London
Salary: Up to £53,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working Model: Hybrid

Key Highlights

Salary up to £53,000 per annum
£8,000 relocation bonus
£5,000 welcome payment
Permanent senior frontline opportunity within a stable safeguarding service
Hybrid working and flexible working arrangements
Strong management support with regular reflective supervision
Clear progression pathways into Advanced Practitioner and Team Manager roles
Opportunity to work within a relationship-based and systemic practice model

Join Croydon’s Safeguarding Service

Croydon Council is seeking an experienced and passionate Senior Social Worker to join its Safeguarding Team. This is an excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking local authority that is committed to high-quality child-centred practice, workforce development, and strong leadership support.

The service operates within a relationship-based and systemic practice model, enabling practitioners to build strong partnerships with children and families, understand family dynamics, and create sustainable safety plans that improve outcomes.

With an excellent salary, relocation support, and welcome payment, this is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced practitioner ready to step into a senior role while remaining hands-on with complex safeguarding work.

The Role

As a Senior Social Worker in the Safeguarding Team, you will manage a complex caseload of children subject to Child in Need, Child Protection, Public Law Outline, and court proceedings. You will undertake direct work with children and families, lead robust risk assessments, and ensure care planning is purposeful, analytical, and outcome focused.

You will also support less experienced social workers through mentoring, practice guidance, and contributing to high standards across the service.

Key Responsibilities

Manage complex safeguarding cases involving CIN, CP, PLO, and court work
Complete high-quality assessments, risk analysis, and care planning
Undertake direct work with children, families, and wider support networks
Lead on Child Protection Conferences, core groups, and legal planning meetings
Apply a relationship-based and systemic practice model to intervention planning
Progress permanence planning where long-term intervention is required
Provide mentoring and informal support to junior practitioners
Work closely with schools, health, police, legal, and partner agencies
Ensure accurate and timely case recording in line with statutory requirements