Social Worker – Looked After Children Service

London Borough of Bexley
£39.04 per hour
Full-Time Contract
Office Attendance Required – 4 Days Per Week

Key Highlights

• £39.04 per hour
• Looked After Children Service
• Full-time contract opportunity
• Stable and supportive management team
• Manage a varied caseload of Looked After Children
• Focus on permanency planning and achieving positive outcomes
• Office-based collaborative working environment
• Social workers are expected to attend the office 4 days per week

Make a Lasting Difference for Children in Care

The London Borough of Bexley is seeking an experienced and motivated Social Worker to join its Looked After Children Service. This is an excellent opportunity for a practitioner who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people in care and supporting them to achieve stability, permanence, and positive futures.

As a Social Worker within the Looked After Children Team, you will work with children and young people who are subject to care orders, accommodated under Section 20, or progressing towards permanency. You will play a key role in ensuring children receive high-quality support, protection, and advocacy throughout their care journey.

About Bexley Council

Bexley is committed to delivering outstanding services to children, young people, and families. The authority places children at the heart of all decision-making and strives to provide a relationship-based service that promotes safety, stability, and long-term positive outcomes.

You will join a supportive and collaborative service where professional development, reflective supervision, and high-quality practice are actively encouraged. The service works closely with partner agencies to ensure children receive coordinated and effective support tailored to their individual needs.

The Role

As a Social Worker within the Looked After Children Service, you will hold responsibility for managing a caseload of children in care, undertaking statutory duties, progressing permanence plans, and ensuring children’s voices remain central to all assessments and planning.

You will build meaningful relationships with children, carers, and families while working alongside professionals from education, health, legal services, and the wider safeguarding network.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of Looked After Children in accordance with statutory requirements and local procedures.
• Complete statutory visits, assessments, care plans, pathway plans, and review reports within required timescales.
• Develop and progress permanence plans, including reunification, long-term fostering, Special Guardianship Orders, and adoption where appropriate.
• Build strong and effective relationships with children and young people to ensure their wishes and feelings inform decision-making.
• Undertake direct work with children and young people to promote positive outcomes and address identified needs.
• Work closely with foster carers, residential providers, schools, health professionals, and partner agencies to coordinate support and safeguarding arrangements.
• Attend and contribute to statutory reviews, professionals' meetings, placement planning meetings, and court proceedings where required.
• Complete high-quality assessments, reports, and case recordings that demonstrate analytical thinking and evidence-based practice.
• Support young people preparing for independence and adulthood through effective pathway planning and transition work.
• Identify and manage risk appropriately while promoting strengths-based and child-centred practice.

Working Arrangements

This role requires a strong office presence to support collaborative working and effective service delivery.

Social workers are expected to attend the office a minimum of four days per week.

The remaining working time may be spent undertaking visits, attending meetings, or working flexibly in line with service requirements and management direction.

Candidate Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
• Previous experience working within a Looked After Children, Children in Care, Permanence, or Safeguarding Service.
• Strong knowledge of childcare legislation, statutory guidance, and safeguarding procedures.
• Experience of undertaking assessments, care planning, and permanency planning.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload and prioritise competing demands effectively.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and report-writing skills.
• Commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Ability to work collaboratively with children, families, carers, and partner agencies.
• A sound understanding of child development, attachment, and trauma-informed practice.

Why Work with Us?

• Competitive rate of £39.04 per hour.
• Opportunity to work within a supportive and experienced team.
• Regular supervision and management support.
• Varied and rewarding caseload.
• Collaborative multi-agency working environment.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people in care.
• Access to ongoing learning and professional development opportunities.

If you are a committed Social Worker with experience supporting Looked After Children and are looking for your next opportunity within a well-established local authority, we would love to hear from you.

Contact:
Josh Dhumisani
📞 07902371315
📧 jdhumisani@sheldon-phillips.com