Job Description
Salary range: £68,427 - £76,588 p.a. inc. London weighting
Contract: Permanent
Hours of work: 36 hours per week
Location: Civic centre and other locations from time to time
The Post
We are inviting applications for the position of Principal Social Worker (PSW), a key leadership role within Adult Social Care (ASC). The PSW provides senior professional leadership across the department, ensuring the highest standards of social work practice, safeguarding, workforce development and quality assurance.
As part of our strengthened leadership model, the PSW will oversee the Principal Social Worker Office, lead professional governance arrangements and contribute directly to ASC’s unified Improvement Function. The role is central to embedding excellent practice, supporting consistent, person‑centred delivery across all ASC pathways, and ensuring a strong professional identity across our social care workforce.
A major element of the role is safeguarding leadership. The PSW will operationally manage Adult Social Care Safeguarding Teams, hold full oversight and accountability for all Section 42 Care Act enquiries, and ensure thresholds, statutory duties and Making Safeguarding Personal are applied consistently.
The Principal Social Worker Will
* Provide strategic professional leadership for social work across Adult Social Care.
* Lead the Principal Social Worker Office, driving practice improvement and professional standards.
* Oversee workforce development including CPD, practice education, student placements, ASYE programmes and capability frameworks.
* Support ASC’s preparation for CQC Assurance, ensuring evidence, quality standards and professional governance are robust.
* Drive quality assurance, audit activity and learning across ASC services.
* Build strong partnerships across health, voluntary sector, regional PSW networks and wider council teams.
Safeguarding Leadership
* Operationally manage the Adult Social Care Safeguarding Teams.
* Hold full oversight and accountability for Section 42(1) and Section 42(2) Care Act enquiries.
* Provide expert professional advice on complex safeguarding, risk management and defensible decision‑making.
* Ensure safeguarding learning, SAR themes, audit outcomes and performance intelligence drive continuous improvement.
The Person
* Is a qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England, with substantial post‑qualification experience and evidence of ongoing professional development.
* Brings strong expertise in safeguarding, Section 42 enquiries and statutory decision‑making.
* Has a proven track record in practice improvement, quality assurance or workforce development.
* Can lead teams confidently, build practitioner confidence and influence positive practice culture.
* Shows strong analytical ability, excellent communication and the ability to drive change.
* Works confidently with partners and builds strong multi‑agency relationships.
* Demonstrates commitment to person‑centred practice, professional standards and inclusive leadership.
* Has significant experience in social work practice, safeguarding and/or professional leadership.
* Has experience leading practice improvement, delivering QA programmes and managing complex cases.
* Has strong partnership working across internal and external networks.
Why join us?
* Up to 33 days annual leave (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays.
* Excellent pension with generous employer contributions (LGPS).
* Hybrid and flexible working options available for most roles.
* Supportive family‑friendly policies for parent, guardians, and carers.
* Health and wellbeing support, including access to eye test support and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
* Financial support such as education sessions, childcare deposit loans, and season ticket loans.
* Travel perks including affordable parking nearby, a Cycle to Work scheme, and great onsite facilities.
* Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career.
* Access to My Brent Rewards with exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, leisure and entertainment.
Closing date
26 May 2026 (23:59)
Additional Information – Diversity & Inclusion
Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this. We positively encourage all applicants to self-identify their characteristics in the diversity survey section of the application.
We are committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Posts working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are subject to an Enhanced DBS check as well as other employment clearances.
The information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas and your data protection rights, can be found at the link provided.
Brent has a positive approach to flexible working.
As a disability confident employer, Brent welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including "non‑visible" disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us at recruitment@brent.gov.uk.
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