Job Description
Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities.
Introduction
The Integrated Adolescent Service (IAS) provides a coordinated response to the complex needs of children and young people (CYP) affected by Risk Outside the Home (ROTH).
About the Role
You'll play a key role in safeguarding adolescents by:
* Leading and contributing to strategy discussions
* Leading on Section 47 enquiries
* Leading and contributing to Group Supervision
* Building trusted, trauma‑informed relationships with adolescents and their families
* Working collaboratively with multi‑agency partners to deliver robust safety planning
* Supporting colleagues through reflective supervision and practice development
What We’re Looking For
* Qualified Social Workers with a minimum of 3 years post‑qualification experience
* Strong understanding of adolescent development and contextual safeguarding
* Confident practitioners with excellent communication, analysis and risk assessment skills
* A commitment to anti‑oppressive practice and young person‑centred approaches
Why Join Lewisham?
* Be part of a borough that’s bold, diverse and committed to innovation in safeguarding
* Join a supportive, reflective and high‑performing service
* Access ongoing professional development, including leadership pathways
* Make a tangible impact in a borough that values relationship‑based practice and community resilience
Our Vision – What Good Children's Social Work Looks Like in Lewisham
* Families are respected and supported to stay together, whenever there is safety
* Families will tell us they understand why we are involved
* Children will tell us their social worker has made a difference to their lives
* Children who are in our care know we care and we won’t give up on them
* Young people who have been in our care feel confident about their future
"Lewisham has so much to offer any social worker. I feel supported, respected and valued every step of the way" (Social Worker).
Our social workers benefit from working in small, supportive teams with caseloads on average between 15‑20 children. Our Signs of Safety family‑led practice framework means we are committed to working in a relationship‑based way with children and families, focusing on strengths in the family network to effect change. A positive learning culture which promotes opportunities for reflection and relationship‑based practice is important to us. We are committed to developing our practice using reflective practice spaces such as case mapping, thinking spaces and group supervision.
Our permanent and stable senior management team is visible and approachable. Our dedicated workforce team supports professional development across the service so that you will:
* be supported through our comprehensive learning and development offer, which includes subscription to 'Research in Practice'
* receive regular supervision and appraisal
* have 1‑1 practice development coaching as a case holder, and professional development coaching as a manager
* have access to regular Signs of Safety training
* have access to external leadership development opportunities such as the Black and Asian Leadership Initiative (BALI)
* have a clearly defined career progression pathway with opportunities for professional development at all levels
* opportunities to become a practice educator and work with students and newly qualified social workers
Location
The job is primarily based in Laurence House in Catford SE6. There are 2 local train stations 3‑5 minutes’ walk from the office, and the train journey from London Bridge is approximately 15 minutes. There are also numerous bus routes that stop right by the office. We operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.
Inclusive Lewisham
A core value of Lewisham Council is to ‘draw on the diversity of our communities to create a more inclusive Lewisham’. We believe that freedom from discrimination and equality of opportunity are fundamental rights, and that each person should be valued regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender re‑assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, or age. Social inclusion lies at the heart of everything we do as a Council in our roles as an employer, a provider of services and a community leader.
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, we will make reasonable adjustments to ensure 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.
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)
Salary
£50,175 – £52,269 per annum (SCP 35‑37 / SSW)
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.
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