Senior Social Worker – Family Safeguarding
Location: Southwark
Rate: £39.04 per hour
Contract: Locum, Full-Time
Start Date: ASAP
Office: 2–3 days per week (hybrid working)
Southwark are looking for a Senior Social Worker to join their Family Safeguarding Team — a team built around real multi-disciplinary working and relational practice, not just case management.
They use the Family Safeguarding Model, which integrates social workers with in-house adult practitioners (domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health) to work together on family plans. You’ll be expected to build trust with families, support sustainable change, and use motivational interviewing as part of your daily practice. This is not short-term work — you’ll hold cases throughout the child’s journey, from Child in Need through to Child Protection and care proceedings, where necessary.
Key Responsibilities
- Hold a mixed caseload of CIN and CP cases, including care proceedings
- Carry out robust assessments and develop SMART plans with families
- Use motivational interviewing and strengths-based approaches to drive engagement
- Work closely with in-house adult specialists and other agencies to deliver holistic interventions
- Contribute to legal planning meetings, court reports and attend relevant hearings
- Use Southwark’s model to ensure outcomes are evidence-based and achievable
- Provide support and guidance to less experienced colleagues when needed
What They’re Looking For
- Social Work England registration
- Strong experience in Child Protection and/or Family Safeguarding teams
- Knowledge of the Family Safeguarding model and its tools (motivational interviewing, integrated practice)
- Confidence working with risk and complexity across long-term cases
- Comfortable working in-office 2–3 days per week
Apply Now!
To apply or find out more, please contact Maddie on:
M: 01635 226350
L: 07561 805654
E: mbillingham@sheldon-phillips.com
Know someone perfect for this role? We offer up to £500 for successful referrals – no strings attached.