Job Description

Job Category: Social Care
:
Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!
We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK's first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.
Introduction
We are growing the Family Wellbeing Team and looking for two Social Workers to join us!
The Family Wellbeing Team is a multi-disciplinary Family Help team specialising in working with families affected by substance misuse, and is made up of Social Workers, Senior Family Practitioners, Substance Misuse Practitioners, Mental Health Practitioners and Business Support.
What's the role?
The Family Wellbeing Team aims to improve the safety and wellbeing of children affected by the drug and alcohol use of their parents and carers, through providing earlier and easier access to substance misuse and mental health support. The aim is to divert these families from traditional Child Protection processes.
The team was established in September 2024 and has been leading the way in testing innovative social work practice, including.

• Integrated Child and Family Assessments with substance misuse and mental health
• Multi-agency group supervision
• A new approach to child protection conferences (Keeping Children Safe meetings) taking place face to face at a location chosen by the parents
• Diversified team with co-location from partner agencies, and co-allocation of cases to non-LBL practitioners
• Closer working with the family network during the assessment and safety planning process

As part of the team, you will receive:

• Training in parental substance misuse and motivational interviewing
• Fortnightly reflective group supervision
• Consultation and wraparound support from Lewisham's Hidden Harm Social Worker
• Close links with substance misuse and adult mental health services.

What's in it for you?
Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

What we're looking for

• Post-qualifying experience of Social Work practice and experience of managing a frontline safeguarding caseload
• Working with parents who have complex needs where there is a risk of significant harm to their children
• Completing parenting assessments - or other assessments of parents regarding the safety and well-being of children for use in the Family Proceedings Court.
• Using the Signs of Safety practice framework to structure your assessments and interventions with families
• Completing family network meetings to achieve the safety and well-being of children
• Giving evidence in the Family Proceedings Court

Location
The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU, but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.
Special conditions

• The post holder must have a social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
• The job is subject to a DBS check (Enhanced)

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don't accept CV's.
- please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.
For an informal discussion about this job, please contact
Please click to view the and Person Specification
Salary
45,852 - 47,925 per annum (SCP 31-33)
N.B: 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.
Diversity
Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at
The Council has a dedicated employment support service, , which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email and an advisor will be in touch with you.
The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.
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