Social Worker
London Borough of Islington
About The Role
Are you a passionate and driven Social Worker looking to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people? Join Islington’s Outstanding-rated services and be part of an innovative, supportive team that is committed to helping children thrive and reach their full potential.
We are excited to be recruiting a Child and Family Social Workers to join our Independent Futures Service – a specialist Leaving Care service supporting young people aged 16–25 as they transition into adulthood. This is a unique opportunity to work in a forward-thinking service where Motivational Practice and trauma-informed approaches are embedded in everything we do.
About the role
As a Child and Family Social Worker, you will work directly with children, families, and care experienced young people to build strong, purposeful relationships that promote safety, stability, and long-term positive outcomes. You will:
- Manage a caseload of children in need, those requiring protection, and young people in care or leaving care
- Carry out high-quality, child-focused assessments and develop effective plans
- Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners to safeguard and support children
- Lead on safeguarding processes, decision-making, and interventions
- Advocate for children and young people, ensuring their voices are heard
- Support placement stability and permanency planning
- Maintain accurate and timely case records
- Embed trauma-informed and motivational practices in all aspects of your work
What we’re looking for
We are seeking motivated and reflective practitioners who are committed to achieving the very best outcomes for children and young people. You will have:
- Experience working in statutory social work settings
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding, legislation, and child development
- Experience working with children in care and care-experienced young people
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- The ability to assess risk, analyse complex situations, and make sound decisions
- Strong organisational and IT skills
- A commitment to anti-racist, anti-discriminatory, and anti-oppressive practice
- An interest in (or experience of) trauma-informed practice and Motivational Interviewing
About the team
You will be joining a highly skilled and supportive multi-disciplinary team made up of experienced managers, Social Workers, Young Person Advisors, CAMHS professionals, and specialist roles. Our service is well-resourced, stable, and proud of its culture of collaboration and professional development.
Independent Futures has been recognised by Ofsted for its exceptional leadership, committed staff, and outstanding support for care experienced young people, who consistently describe the service in highly positive terms. You will receive regular supervision, access to clinicians, and a comprehensive training package including Motivational Interviewing and trauma-informed practice.
What we offer
- Level 2 retention bonus
- Zone 1–2 Travel Card
- Tailored core training and development programme
- Professional development and career progression opportunities
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- Supportive and experienced management team
- Excellent London location with great transport links
Working arrangements
- Full-time: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
- Flexibility to work outside these hours where required
- Community and office-based role, with flexible working considered in line with service needs
Application details
Please ensure you fully address the person specification, clearly demonstrating how you meet each criterion.
Provisionally Interviews will be w/c commencing 27th July times
Process includes Motivational Interviewing role play, written task, and panel interview
Ready to Shape the Future? Apply Now!
For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact:
Name and Job Title: Lila Wisbeach
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 020 7527 8585
(Alternatively, contact Independent Futures Team Manager Mehmet Krasniqi at [email protected] / 020 7527 8561)
Note to Recruitment Agencies:
We kindly ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy. We are managing the recruitment process internally and will reach out directly should we require external support. Thank you for your understanding.
Working for the team, service and our organisation
Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.
We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.
To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.
- Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
- A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
- Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
- Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
- Excellent local government pension scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
- Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!
We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.
We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.
We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.
Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.
Pre‑Employment Checks
Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:
- Proof of address
- Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
- Right to work in the UK
- Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
- Satisfactory references
- Occupational Health clearance
- Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
- DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)
