Job Ref: CYP-22-154
Job type: Full-time 35 hours
Closing date: Sunday 30th April 2023, 11:59pm
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £37,026 (ASYE) per annum
Our Vision - What Good Children’s Social Work Looks Like in Lewisham
In Lewisham Children’s Social Care, we know what good social work looks like and we are passionate about creating the right conditions and culture for good practice to thrive.
- 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.
We have taken a whole system approach to improving our services to children and young people in our borough using Signs of Safety as our practice model. Ofsted recognised the progress we have made in their focussed inspection in July 21 noting that:
- Staff talk positively about their manageable caseloads, regular supervision, team meetings and access to a range of training, including the social work model of practice.
- Senior leaders demonstrate a clear focus on hearing the voices of children to develop and improve services.
- Leaders know the service well. They have a clear understanding of areas for development that are being appropriately addressed.
We know we are making progress but we recognise that we still have more to do. We need passionate, creative and energetic newly qualified social workers to join our teams to get us where we want to be. Could this be you?
We are recruiting to our next cohort of newly qualified social workers in Children’s Social Care. But why choose Lewisham?
Our staff tell us that they enjoy working at Lewisham and that there is a positive learning culture where reflective supervision and continuing professional development are promoted.
I completed my ASYE programme with Lewisham, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place to do it. Joining Lewisham was the best decision to get the necessary knowledge and experience to become a confident and effective social worker. I cannot imagine having better support during this journey while being surrounded by people with a passion for social work (Newly Qualified Social Worker).
Our social workers benefit from working in small, supportive teams. Our workloads are on average between 15-20 children. Our practice framework is Signs of Safety and we are committed to working in a relationship-based way with children and families, focussing on strengths in the family network to effect change. Promoting opportunities for reflection and relationship-based practice are important to us. We are committed to developing our practice using reflective practice spaces such as case mapping, listening circles and group supervision.
We have a permanent and stable senior management team who are visible and approachable. We have a dedicated principal social worker and workforce team supporting professional development across the service. You will be supported through our comprehensive learning and development offer, which includes subscriptions to Research in Practice and Making Research Count. You will receive regular supervision and appraisal. We offer 1-1 practice development coaching to caseholding staff and professional development coaching to managers. You will have access to regular Signs of Safety training and the opportunity to become a practice leader through attending our bespoke practice leader course. Our staff have access to external leadership development opportunities including the Pathways Leadership Programme and the Black and Asian Leadership Initiative (BALI). We have a clearly defined career progression pathway and many opportunities for social workers to continue their professional development.
We have a strong working relationship with Goldsmiths, University of London as part of the South East London Teaching Partnership. Our practitioners have the opportunity to teach on social work courses as teaching consultants. We host both Step Up and traditional route students and social workers have the opportunity to become practice educators.
Lewisham’s Social Work Academy
We have an established ASYE Academy and we are now recruiting to our next cohort to join Lewisham in September 2023. As a newly qualified social worker you will take part in our Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme which includes:
- A comprehensive two week induction programme, during which you will not be allocated any case work.
- Individualised support from an experienced consultant social worker, an advanced practitioner and your team manager.
- A reduced workload for your first year.
- Regular reviews of your progress and a personalised development plan.
- A bespoke training programme for your cohort of newly qualified social workers including reflective learning groups and group supervision.
- Access to training across a range of topics and interventions including Signs of Safety, Direct Work, Best Practice with Children Looked After and Advanced Safeguarding.
- A competitive accelerated pay scheme.
Creating an 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.
Location
We are based in two offices in Catford SE6. There are 2 local train stations
5-10 minutes’ walk from both offices, and the train journey from London Bridge is approximately 15 minutes. There are also numerous bus routes that stop right by the offices. Whilst the service is primarily based in Laurence House, we operate a hybrid approach whereby you may be required to work both in the office and from home as determined by service requirements.
What we’re looking for
Lewisham was the 2022 London Borough of Culture and if you want to work in a thriving borough and our social work vision connects with your professional values, then we are interested in hearing from you. We are looking for people to join our team who:
- value the importance of communication and seeking feedback
- can inspire and motivate those they work with, manage and lead
- are committed to developing their skills and expertise to deliver an excellent service
- are professionally curious and value thinking slowly and calmly in a balanced way
- work inclusively, collaboratively with others recognising their strengths
- take responsibility and make a positive contribution by focusing on solutions
- are transparent, are appreciative in enquiry, reflect and learn.
In return, we’ll offer excellent development opportunities, plus a range of benefits that includes a career average pension scheme, flexible working, a generous leave entitlement and the opportunity to make a real difference to our local community.
We have vacancies for this role in various teams across children’s social care including Referral and Assessment, Family Support and Safeguarding, Children Looked After and Children with Complex Needs Teams. Please specify your preference on your application form.
Salary details
£37,026 (ASYE) per annum
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.
Further information
For an informal discussion about the role and recruitment process, please email LewishamWorkforceDevelopmentGroup@lewisham.gov.uk with your contact details and we will call you to discuss the role in more detail.
Lewisham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.
We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
The post is subject to a DBS.
For a full job description and person specification, and for further information about the recruitment process, please click on the links below.
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Please ensure you demonstrate how you meet each of the shortlisting criteria when writing your supporting statement.
We will hold Information Events about our ASYE programme in April. To attend please email LWDG
To apply please click on 'apply for job' at the top of the page.
Closing date
Sunday 30th April 2023, 11:59pm
We will inform all successful applicants by 5th May 2023 to invite to the Written and Group Activity.
Written and Group Activity
May 15th – 17th 2023, in person, either morning or afternoon session.
We will inform successful applicants by 18th May to invite to interview.
Interview Dates
May 22nd, 23rd, and 24th (in person)
We will inform successful applicants by the 29th May 2023.
We aim to start our next cohort of NQSWs on 25th September 2023.
The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.