Work as a Social Worker in Southwark

This page outlines the benefits of working with us as a Social Worker. Find out how we will support your career development and wellbeing.

Apply for a qualified social worker job

For a limited period we are offering the following for roles in our Assessment and Intervention and Safeguarding and Family Support teams:

• a welcome payment of £3,000
• a retention payment of £2,400 per year for your first two years
• a retention payment of £3,600 after three years

Staff are awarded annual performance-related increments and a local government pension scheme (LGPS).

Other benefits

Alongside a competitive salary, we also offer:

• 28 days annual leave rising to 36 days with continuous service
• vibrant borough in the heart of London with a variety of offices across different venues
• excellent access to Central London and easy transport links to the South East
• a multi-cultural and diverse working environment, which provides excellent opportunities for enhancing your skills
• a commitment to ensure Southwark is inclusive, challenging inequalities and discrimination
• travel schemes including, cycle loans, season ticket loans, essential user parking permits and access to pooled Oyster cards

• Staff wellbeing

  Our commitment includes:

  • a variety of forward-planned Wellbeing sessions, awareness days and months
  • access to a range of active staff networks and forums, for example, LGBTQ+ Staff Forum and Women’s Network
  • modern digital plan with technology to support flexible working arrangements
  • occupational health service
  • employee assistance programme help-line and counselling available to employees
  • access to free swim and gym usage in the borough on Fridays and weekends
  • free eye test and support for display screen equipment users up to £55 on each occasion
  • discounted HSF health plan 
  • family friendly contractual policy with flexible and hybrid working options
• Leadership and support

  Southwark has a lower ratio of workers to managers than most local authorities. This provided stable, supportive leadership. We also offer:

  • well defined frameworks for social work practice such as systemic and strengths-based approaches
  • a culture of innovation and a ‘can do’ approach to problem solving
  • a commitment to work effectively with partners across health, housing, education, community and voluntary sector
  • Principal Social Worker roles and a Principal Occupational Therapist role (adults only) to develop and champion social care practice
  • small teams with supportive managers and manageable caseloads
  • a strong Out of Hours Service, focused on Southwark and local networks, staffed by Senior Practitioners who have close links with day colleagues
• Supervision, learning and development

  We provide an established social work career pathway with a proven history of internal progression. This is supported by:

  • an AYSE (assessed and supported year in employment) programme with a Social Work Development Lead to support learning
  • regular 1 to 1 and group supervision with highly experienced Social Workers
  • clinical practitioners attached to every team to support you and your work 
  • safe spaces to discuss practice and the use of self in peer groups
  • a range of professional forums, reflective spaces, networking structures, and special interest groups
  • access to a broad range of health and social care training and a culture of interprofessional working and learning
  • continuing professional development through an extensive learning and development plan
  • opportunities to train as a Practice Educator and develop experience with students
  • opportunities for advanced professional training, such as best interests assessor and approved mental health professional in adult social care 
  • coaching and mentoring opportunities during working hours

Contact us to find out more

• for queries about Children's social work, contact Daniel Comach
• for queries about Adults' social work, contact David Larcher   

Page last updated: 24 April 2024