Location
Sutton, London Borough of Sutton

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£50,085 per annum

About the Borough
The London Borough of Sutton is situated less than 30 minutes by train from Central London, with direct connections to London Victoria and London Bridge. Located in zone 5 with excellent transport links, Sutton boasts award-winning parks and open spaces, low crime rates, affordable housing, and great schools. The borough enjoys high levels of resident engagement and satisfaction, delivering quality services while addressing financial challenges and involving residents in key issues and local developments.

About the Borough (continued)
Sutton is investing continuously in the health, wellbeing, and education of its residents and future generations, as outlined in the “Ambitious for Sutton” corporate plan. Home to the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton is developing the London Cancer Hub, aiming to become the world’s leading life-science district specialising in cancer research and treatment. This vision is expected to create around 13,000 jobs and contribute £1.2bn annually to the UK economy. With regeneration projects including new homes and schools, Sutton is committed to working closely with residents and vulnerable groups to maintain independence and balance support with independent living.

About the Council
The Council is a key driver within the South London Partnership, collaborating with four other outer south west London boroughs on strategic growth, regeneration, and investment. Sutton aims to shape the borough’s future to meet residents’ needs and make it a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

About the Service and Team
Adult Social Care is undergoing significant transformation to meet rising service demands. We are implementing wide-ranging changes to improve adult care and create positive working environments for staff. New leadership and experienced managers bring innovative ideas to drive meaningful improvements in service delivery. Our goal is to provide exceptional care that enhances community outcomes while fostering an inclusive, diverse, and stable environment for staff career growth.

Adults First Contact Service - Safeguarding, DOLs and General Duty
Sutton has a well-established Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs) team of Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) conducting assessments on behalf of the borough. A new General Duty service has been introduced to improve resident access and experience, focusing on individuals’ strengths and abilities. The team screens safeguarding, DoLs, and Care Act eligibility and aims to provide information and advice that support residents’ independence.

About the Role and Our Ideal Candidate
Join Adult Social Care as a Social Worker and receive a Welcome Bonus* of £1000 paid in your first month’s salary or a Retention Bonus* of £1000 for every complete year of service (*subject to payscale). This exciting opportunity challenges you to work in a dynamic, diverse environment, expanding your skills and knowledge in social care practice.

As a Social Worker in the Safeguarding Team, you will triage incoming safeguarding referrals, determine if they meet the threshold for enquiry, and decide the appropriate course of action to address risks. You will formulate protection plans prioritising service users’ needs and voices, integrating input from professionals, families/carers, and external agencies to achieve the best outcomes. Confidence in managing complex scenarios and crisis situations such as self-neglect and domestic abuse is essential.

Within the Safeguarding Triage Team, you will triage referrals received through the Contact Centre, respond in a person-centred way using a prevention and strength-based approach, and proactively identify individuals at risk of developing social care needs. Collaboration with health partners, community groups, service users, and residents to facilitate co-production is required.

You will work closely with Locality Teams who provide longer-term support to residents.

Are you ready to take the next step? We are here to support your growth as you begin your career at Sutton.

Our Offer to You
We value and nurture talent, offering a supportive, friendly, and collaborative environment to develop your career and skills. We encourage ideas of all sizes and provide strong support from a dynamic and experienced management team.

Benefits include:

- Generous annual leave entitlement of 26-32 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time)
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption, and dependents leave
- Two volunteering days per year
- Flexible working through the Smarter Working Scheme (role dependent)
- Adjustable and agile working arrangements with Google Chromebooks
- Access to a learning and development portal with a range of courses
- Discounts at local shops, restaurants, gyms, and leisure centres
- Interest-free season ticket loans
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle leasing scheme
- Confidential health, wellbeing, and counselling support

Application Process
Apply online outlining the skills, abilities, and experience that make you an ideal candidate. Refer to the job profile requirements and ensure your CV details are correctly uploaded. Sutton embraces the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve productivity but values authenticity and personalised responses. Applications relying solely on AI-generated content may be rejected. Transparency and demonstration of PRIDE values are essential throughout the application and interview process.

The closing date is indicative; the vacancy may close once sufficient applications are received. Early application is advised to avoid disappointment.

Sutton anonymises applications to reduce bias and encourages diverse interview panels. We are committed to removing barriers and enhancing workforce diversity.

Additional Information
We are proud to be a diverse and welcoming borough, reflecting the community we serve and fostering belonging among staff. We celebrate differences and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. Family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, and inclusive staff networks support our diversity agenda.

We are a disability confident employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants meeting minimum criteria. As an accredited London Living Wage Employer, all employees receive the London Living Wage regardless of contract length or type.

The UK’s points-based immigration system affects sponsorship availability, which is subject to eligibility and budget. Sponsorship cannot be guaranteed and is evaluated case-by-case.

Experience
Experience in social work within adult safeguarding or related fields is desirable. Confidence in managing complex safeguarding cases, including crisis situations such as self-neglect and domestic abuse, is essential. Experience working collaboratively with multi-agency partners and community groups is advantageous.

About you
You are committed to empowering adults to live as independently as possible. You demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, resilience, and the ability to work