Location
London Borough of Hillingdon

Hours
Full Time - 36 hours per week

Salary
Up to £56,444 per annum (including £4,250 retention payment)

About the Role
Join Hillingdon's Outstanding Family Help Service. If you're passionate about building meaningful relationships with children and families and want to work somewhere you can truly make a difference, Hillingdon is the place for you. Following our recent Ofsted Outstanding judgement, we continue to invest in our workforce, creating the conditions for social workers to thrive. We know great social work happens when practitioners have the time, support and stability to focus on families.

We offer a competitive salary package including a £4,250 retention payment, SWE fee, free on-site parking, and flexible hybrid working arrangements. Our location is conveniently 5 minutes from Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines.

Hillingdon's Family Help Service is at the forefront of the national Families First Partnership Programme, bringing together early help, targeted support and statutory intervention to provide seamless support for children and families. Working within locality-based teams, you'll support children from Child in Need through to Child Protection, developing strong relationships with families and partners within your local community.

Our approach is simple: Build relationships. Create change. Improve outcomes. By working in smaller geographical areas, social workers can spend more time with children and families, strengthen local partnerships and deliver interventions that make a lasting difference.

As a Family Help Social Worker, you will:
- Build trusted, relationship-based partnerships with children, young people and their families.
- Complete high-quality assessments that identify strengths, risks and support needs.
- Develop and deliver effective Child in Need and Child Protection plans.
- Lead purposeful interventions that improve safety, wellbeing and family resilience.
- Work collaboratively with schools, health services, police, adult services and community partners.
- Safeguard children and promote positive outcomes through timely and effective decision-making.
- Maintain accurate records, assessments and reports to support high-quality practice.
- Contribute to our ambition of becoming a fully trauma-informed service.

Why Hillingdon?
We are proud of our Outstanding Ofsted judgement, stable and experienced permanent leadership team, strong culture of support and collaboration, commitment to workforce wellbeing, investment in professional development, clear career progression pathways, and focus on manageable caseloads. Our social workers tell us that what makes Hillingdon different is the combination of strong leadership, supportive colleagues and the opportunity to spend meaningful time helping families create lasting change.

Make your next career move count by joining Hillingdon's Family Help Service and help transform the lives of children and families every day.

Benefits
We value our employees and offer a wide range of benefits to enhance work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development including:
- Flexible working hours
- 36 hour workweek for full-time staff
- Generous holiday entitlement increasing with length of service
- Discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools
- Salary sacrifice schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions
- Cycle to Work scheme with bicycle parking, lockers and showers
- Access to Local Government Pension Scheme and Credit Union membership
- Vivup Benefits offering various discounts
- Mental health support and counselling services with 24-hour confidential advice
- Travel support including season ticket loans and free car parking
- Trade union membership options supported by the Council

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace where all employees and applicants are treated fairly. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds and provide reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities. Our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias.

Recruitment Information
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the essential criteria and wish to be considered under this scheme. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Pre-employment screening includes:
- Enhanced DBS Check
- Qualifications Check
- Professional Registration Check
- 5 years of Referencing

Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Due to high volume of applications, the role may close early, so early application is recommended.

Experience
Experience of working with children and families within statutory children's services is essential. Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, child development and practice frameworks is required.

About you
You will be passionate about making a lasting difference in children's lives and committed to strengths-based, relationship-focused practice. Excellent communication, analytical and relationship-building skills are essential. You should believe that positive relationships can change children's lives.

Qualifications
A recognised Social Work qualification (BA, MA or equivalent) and registration with Social Work England are required.