Senior Social Worker - Risk Outside the Home Team, IAS
Lewisham · London · £51,831–£53,994 (stated in the posting)
We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.
Introduction
Are you an experienced and passionate Social Worker committed to safeguarding young people and tackling extra-familial harm?
We are seeking motivated Senior Social Worker’s to join our innovative Risk Outside the Home (ROTH) Team, working with some of our most vulnerable young people exposed to exploitation, serious youth violence, county lines, missing episodes, and other contextual safeguarding concerns.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a specialist team that focuses on understanding and reducing harm occurring beyond the family home, whilst working collaboratively with young people, families, networks, partners, and communities.
What’s the role?
As a Senior Social Worker, you will play a key role in safeguarding adolescents by:
- Holding and managing a caseload of adolescent safeguarding cases.
- Leading on assessments, interventions and planning for young people experiencing extra-familial harm.
- Building trusted, trauma-informed relationships with young people and their families to achieve a positive outcome.
- Chairing and contributing to multi-agency meetings and professional networks.
- Working creatively alongside police, education, health, youth justice, and community partners.
- Contributing to developing contextual safeguarding practice across the service.
- Ensuring timely recording, assessment, and statutory interventions in line with legislation and local procedures.
- Working collaboratively with multi-agency partners to deliver robust safety planning
What’s in it for you?
Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday allowance
- Local Government Pension scheme
- Flexible working and family friendly policies
- Season ticket and bicycle loans
- A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
- Supportive staff networks
What we’re looking for
- Qualified Social Workers with a minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience registered with Social Work England.
- Strong understanding of adolescent development and contextual safeguarding
- Knowledgeable in exploitation, serious youth violence, contextual safeguarding and trauma-informed practice.
- Skilled in building purposeful relationships with young people who may be reluctant to engage.
- Confident practitioners with excellent communication, analysis, and risk assessment skills
- Confident in multi-agency working and professional challenge.
- A commitment to anti-oppressive practice and young person-centred approaches
- Committed to achieving outstanding outcomes for vulnerable young people.
Location
The job is primarily based at the Old Town Hall, Rushey Green, London, SE6 4RY, but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.
Special conditions
- The post holder must have a social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
- Must be 2 years post qualified for this role
- The job is subject to a DBS check (Enhanced)
The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CVs.
Applicant handbook- please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.
For an informal discussion about this job, please contact Marcia Lee-Chang (Service Group Manager) Marcia.Lee-Chang1@lewisham.gov.uk
Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification
Salary
£51,831- £53,994 per annum (SSW/SCP 35-37)
N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.
Diversity
Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply
The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.
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Job type: Full time 35 hours, Closing date: Sunday 8th November 2026, 23:59pm, Contract Type: Permanent, Salary: £51,831 - £53,994 per annum (SSW/ SCP 35-37), DBS check required: Yes (Enhanced - Children)