About the role
At Hillingdon Council, we are proud to live our commitment to Putting Our Residents First, ensuring children and families remain at the heart of everything we do.
We are now delivering services through an exciting family help model placing social workers in locality teams, closer to the communities they serve. This approach is fully aligned with the latest DfE family first programme expectations, ensuring practice that is child-centred, community-focused, and responsive to local needs.
As a Senior Social Worker in Hillingdon, you will still enjoy the variety and impact of frontline practice, while also taking on enhanced professional leadership responsibilities.
You will:
* Build meaningful, relationship-based practice with children and families.
* Manage a complex caseload with high levels of professional autonomy.
* Provide expert advice and technical guidance to social workers, managers, colleagues and partners.
* Use and model a range of assessment and intervention frameworks, supporting others to develop their practice.
* Lead and coordinate multi-agency plans that safeguard children and support families.
* Prepare reports and act as an expert witness in Care or Private Order proceedings.
* Participate in panel processes, contribute to team/service planning, and help shape decision-making.
* Act as a practice educator or mentor for social work students/apprentices and/or newly qualified social workers.
* Contribute to reflective practice sessions, management information, and service development.
You'll also be part of our journey to becoming a fully trauma-informed service, supported by a strong and stable leadership team, regular supervision, and extensive professional development opportunities.
We are committed to delivering OUTSTANDING outcomes for children and young people - and we are proud that Ofsted recognises the strength of our practice.
About You
We're looking for passionate, resilient, and forward-thinking Senior Social Workers who are ready to make a real impact and support colleagues to do the same.
You will be:
* A qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England.
* Experienced in managing complex caseloads and confident working with high levels of autonomy.
* Skilled in using and modelling a range of assessment and intervention frameworks.
* Committed to relationship-based and trauma-informed practice.
* Able to provide expert professional advice and mentor or supervise less experienced social workers and alternatively qualified key workers.
* Confident in preparing court reports and giving expert testimony.
* Creative, reflective, and open to learning and improvement, with a strong understanding of safeguarding and statutory responsibilities.
* A collaborative professional who thrives in a team environment and is motivated to deliver excellence in line with DfE's children's social care reforms.
About us
We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.
Here's a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:
* Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
* 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
* Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
* Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
* Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
* Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
* Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
* Vivup Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
* Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
* Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.
The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.
Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.
Recruitment Information
Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a 'per application' basis.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre-employment screening:
* Enhanced DBS Check
* Qualifications Check
* Professional Registration Check
* 5 years of Referencing
Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.
It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.