Location
Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London, SE6 4RU. Hybrid working approach with a mix of office and home working.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£50,175 - £52,269 per annum (SCP 35-37 / SSW). All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point for the grade unless matching current salary with evidential proof.

About the Role
As part of Lewisham’s Children and Young People’s Directorate, the Senior Social Worker delivers a high-quality, accountable statutory social work service to children who are looked after, subject to care proceedings, or progressing toward adoption. The role involves robust assessment, purposeful intervention, and meaningful case planning and review in line with legislation, Council policy, and Lewisham’s Senior Social Worker role profile.
Working collaboratively with foster carers, birth families, adopters, Special Guardians, education and health colleagues, and other partners, the Senior Social Worker ensures children benefit from coordinated and trauma-informed support. This reflects Lewisham’s identity as a diverse, inclusive borough committed to relational practice and championing the rights of children, families, and communities.
The postholder manages a caseload of complex looked after children, ensuring their needs, wellbeing, identity, and safety are central to all planning. Responsibilities include producing high-quality written evidence for court, contributing to permanence planning, and preparing reports for CLA reviews, legal meetings, panels, and multi-agency partners.
In a senior capacity, the Senior Social Worker provides guidance and informal professional support to social workers and alternatively qualified staff, contributes to reflective practice and team development, and upholds strong recording, compliance, and safeguarding standards.
This role is central to promoting stability, timely permanency outcomes, and safe, nurturing futures for children. The successful candidate will contribute to service development and help embed best-practice approaches aligned with Lewisham’s values, legal responsibilities, and commitment to high-quality children’s social care.
Benefits include excellent training and development opportunities, 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, and supportive staff networks.

Experience
Proven ability to manage complex caseloads of looked after children, produce high-quality court evidence, and meet competing demands and deadlines. Strong report writing skills and trauma-informed assessment experience are essential.

About you
You value clear communication and feedback, inspire and motivate colleagues, and are committed to continuous professional development. You are professionally curious, able to think calmly and reflectively, work inclusively and collaboratively, take responsibility, focus on solutions, and demonstrate transparency and appreciation in enquiry and learning.

Qualifications
A degree in social work or equivalent qualification is required. You must be registered with Social Work England. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.