Location
London Borough of Lewisham, primarily based at Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU. The office is conveniently located 3-5 minutes’ walk from two local train stations, with a 15-minute train journey from London Bridge. Numerous bus routes also serve the area.

Hours
Hybrid working approach with a requirement to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Salary
£58,299 - £60,486 per annum (SWLO/SCP 41-43). All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point for the grade unless matching current salary with evidential proof.

About the Role
Discover yourself in Lewisham where your work makes a real difference to vibrant and culturally diverse communities. Lewisham is proud to be the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, championing the rights of refugees and migrants. As a Wave 2 Pathfinder authority, Lewisham leads national reforms to social work practice through the Families First for Children programme.

We are recruiting for Advanced Practitioners to join our newly established Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (CPT) and Multi-Agency Adolescent Protection Teams (APT) within the Family Help and Care division and Families, Quality and Commissioning division. These teams provide support from family hub prevention services through to statutory child protection and care experienced young people.

The Child Protection teams intervene in cases of intra-familial harm, while the Adolescent Protection teams focus on risks outside the home such as gangs, violence, child sexual exploitation, and criminal exploitation. Both teams also have quality assurance responsibilities, including chairing child protection conferences and working alongside Family Help Lead Practitioners in care proceedings and Public Law Outline.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of local and national social work reform. We seek inspirational, creative, and ambitious social work leaders and practitioners who want to lead change and improve outcomes for children and families in our borough.

Experience
- Significant post-qualifying experience as a social worker with thorough knowledge of current child protection practice.
- Skilled in managing complex frontline operational practice as a case holder.
- Experienced in leading S47 enquiries and chairing meetings including strategy discussions and child protection conferences.
- Excellent knowledge of child protection legislation and practice.
- Proven ability to form effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and colleagues.
- Skilled at working with partners to create cohesive teams that intervene decisively to protect children from intra and extra familial harm.

About You
- Qualified social worker registered with Social Work England.
- Thorough technical knowledge of Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), Pan London Child Protection Procedures, and other relevant statutory guidance.
- Good understanding of the DfE Families First for Children reform programme.
- In-depth understanding of the Signs of Safety practice framework.
- Ambitious for children and families, able to deliver effective services that improve lives.
- Understanding of the current context of local authority social work services and reform.
- Values communication, feedback, inclusivity, collaboration, and professional curiosity.
- Able to inspire, motivate, and lead teams while maintaining a calm and reflective approach.
- Committed to continuous professional development and delivering excellent service.

Qualifications
- Social work qualification and registration with Social Work England is essential.
- Enhanced DBS check is required for this role.