Social Worker - Adolescent & Youth Justice Service Permanent
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
About this job
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Social Worker, Adolescent Team</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Department:</strong> Adolescent and Youth Justice Service</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Section:</strong> Children’s Care and Support</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Location:</strong> Barking Town Hall</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Interview Date:</strong> W/c Sep 7<sup>th</sup> 2026</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Closing Date for Application:</strong> Aug 23<sup>th</sup> 2026</p> <p style="text-align: left;"> </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>About this job</strong></p> <p>This is a really exciting time to come and join the Adolescent team, our multidisciplinary response to the range of exploitative situations faced by some of the most vulnerable children in our borough. The team includes social workers, a CAMHS practitioner, missing children coordinators, an NRM coordinator and is supported by colleagues from our Youth at Risk Matrix.</p> <p>This team sits alongside the Youth Justice Service to create a joined up targeted response which supports us in having a holistic focus on the young person within a contextual safeguarding environment.</p> <p>Barking and Dagenham has a rapidly growing 0-19 population and we recognise that not all risks faced by children originate from within the family home and use a contextual safeguarding approach to tackle these issues, alongside our partners across Barking and Dagenham.</p> <p>Within the borough we use a relational approach to engage our children and young people, and caseloads and processes within the team have been set in a way that recognises that such an approach takes time.</p> <p>As part of this team you will work with children and young people that have been victims of or are at risk from a range of exploitative situations. You will be responsible for undertaking assessments and working with partners in offering targeted interventions. You will report into the Adolescent Team Manager and will have a passion for working with complex and often resistant adolescents but be rewarded by being part of a very supportive and dynamic team.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
Special requirements for this post
<p>We welcome applications from qualified and experienced candidates. You will need to have a Social Work degree or DipSW, be registered with Social Work England and have completed your ASYE. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and a comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on successful applicants including an Enhanced Children’s Department of Barring Services check.</p> <p> </p>
About you
<p>We are recruiting a dedicated, passionate, expert social workers who can engage and work well with adolescents. If you want to help improve the life experience of children and families involved in all forms of exploitation, then this job is for you.</p> <p>You will have a sound understanding of adolescent development and need to have a good understanding of contextual safeguarding, exploitation and a successful track record of developing good working relationships with partner agencies.</p>
About us
<p><strong>Barking & Dagenham is changing. It Starts Here.</strong></p> <p>Think you know Barking and Dagenham? Think again. While this small corner of east London might have a reputation for needing development, scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find active communities and a place that consistently punches above its weight. The borough is changing – and changing for the better. And It Starts Here.</p> <p>Yes, the borough has its challenges. But it’s on the cusp of something exciting. With one of the youngest populations in the country, ambitions are high and rightly so. 98% of our schools are rated Good or Outstanding and every year more of our talented teenagers get into Russell Group Universities and hotly sought after apprenticeship schemes.</p> <p>We have award winning parks, centuries old manor houses full of relics and artifacts you can go and see, and the ruins of one of Anglo-Saxon England's most powerful and wealthiest religious sites. We’re even bringing beavers and white storks to the borough to help rewild the local landscape and boost biodiversity.</p> <p>Over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to improve how we deliver services and support our community. From tackling inequality to making sure our services are the best they can be, we’re focused on what matters most to local people. </p> <p>We’re creating the conditions for people to thrive - so everyone can enjoy a good quality of life, feel proud to call this place home, and be part of something bigger. </p> <p>#ItStartsHere - with our streets, our schools, our neighbourhoods. And with your application to join our determined team who are passionate about doing what’s best for the future of Barking and Dagenham. </p> <p>As an Investors in People Gold Award employer, we’re serious about supporting our staff. From flexible working, professional training and career development to wellbeing initiatives, we want our people to feel valued and supported in everything they do.</p> <p>Our values, known as</p> <ul> <li>DRIVE, shape how we work: Deliver our best every day – and do what we promise</li> <li>Respond in a prompt, positive way to our community’s needs</li> <li>Inspire others with our attitudes and actions</li> <li>Value people for who they are and what they can do</li> <li>Engage with others to improve our resilience and flexibility We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.</li> </ul> <p><span class="TextRun SCXW117486099 BCX8" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW117486099 BCX8">We’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW117486099 BCX8"> proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.</span></span></p>
<p><strong>Remuneration / Incentives</strong></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">we offer a competitive pay package, <strong>£2.5k recruitment and retention allowance</strong>,<strong> </strong>generous pension and relocation package, annual leave up to 30 days, investment in your learning and development as well as a commitment to your wellbeing. To find out more about our social work please visit </span><a href="https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/social-worker-jobs"><span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/social-worker-jobs</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">.</span></p>