Senior Social Worker x2

Permanent - Full time office-based

Location: Station Road, Barkingside

Introduction to the Specialist Exploitation Team (SET)

Are you ready to be part of something extraordinary? The Specialist Exploitation Team (SET) at Redbridge Children’s Services is leading the way in safeguarding children at risk of exploitation, and this is a truly exciting time to join us. SET is a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team dedicated to making a real difference for young people facing extra-familial harm. Our work is rooted in creativity, innovation, and deep relationship-based practice—because we know that meaningful change starts with trust and understanding.

What sets SET apart? We offer manageable caseloads so practitioners can devote time to intensive, bespoke interventions. Our specialist focus means every child we support is experiencing risk outside the home, and our approach is tailored to meet their unique needs. Working closely with community partners, we design creative solutions that divert children from harm and open positive, realistic alternatives.

This year, we’re thrilled to be introducing ROTH pathways—an innovative framework that will further strengthen our ability to respond to complex safeguarding challenges. As a Senior Practitioner, you’ll be at the forefront of this transformation, helping to shape new strategies and deliver outstanding outcomes for vulnerable young people.

Join SET and be part of a forward-thinking team that’s passionate about improving lives, driving change, and pioneering new approaches in contextual safeguarding. If you’re looking for a role where your expertise, creativity, and commitment will truly make a difference, we want to hear from you.

How we work

SET is a dedicated multi-disciplinary team with experienced social workers and Family Support workers who work directly with children and their families for the duration of their involvement with Children’s Social Care.

• Manageable caseloads: Allowing time for meaningful engagement and intensive support of children and young people.
• Specialist focus: Only children experiencing exploitation or risk outside the home are allocated to SET.
• Relationship-based practice: We prioritise building deep, trusting relationships with children and families, spending time to understand their unique needs.
• Creative interventions: Working with community partners, we design bespoke plans that divert children from harm and provide realistic, positive alternatives.

The Role

As a Senior Practitioner in SET, you will play a key role in delivering this innovative approach. You will:

• Work intensively with children and families to build trust and create positive change.
• Undertake assessments of children/young people and their families
• Manage a case load of Child in Need, Child Protection, Child Looked After, and/or cases in court.
• Use creativity and community partnerships to design bespoke interventions.
• Contribute to the team’s specialist practice and help shape innovative safeguarding strategies.
• Lead on ROTH pathways
• Be a nominated lead, working across partnerships to keep children safe.

Criteria

We’re looking for passionate, skilled professionals who are ready to make a real impact. To join SET as a Senior Practitioner, you should meet the following criteria:

• Post-qualified experience: Minimum of 2 years as a qualified social worker, with proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Interest in adolescence: A genuine enthusiasm for working with young people and understanding the unique challenges they face.
• Contextual safeguarding expertise: Solid knowledge of contextual safeguarding, or a strong willingness to learn and develop in this area.
• Registration: SW England registered social worker.
• Assessment and safeguarding: Confident in undertaking assessments and knowledgeable about safeguarding processes, including Child in Need, Child Protection, and Looked After Children procedures as well as court work.

If you’re committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable adolescents and excited by the opportunity to help shape innovative safeguarding strategies—especially as we introduce ROTH pathways—then we’d love to hear from you.

This is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking team that is committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable young people through specialist expertise and meaningful relationships.

To apply for this post please visit www.redbridge.gov.uk/jobs or copy the following link into your browser:

https://ce0320li.webitrent.com/ce0320li_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107…

All short-listed applicants will need to demonstrate proof of right to work in the UK.

We are committed to employment practices that promote diversity and inclusion in employment and welcome applications from qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, colour, race, religion, or belief.