Social Worker- Adult Social Care- Substance Misuse Team REF: 2862

Career grade PO2 – PO3: £44,937 pa rising in annual increments to £51,228 inc LW.

Permanent and Full Time

About Us:

Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community of over 317,600 residents. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the South to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the North, we are proud to be the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, making Lambeth the home of the Windrush generation, London's largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community.

It is an exciting time to join Lambeth Council, we have bold ambitions for the future of Lambeth’s communities and residents through our Lambeth 2030 Plan ‘Our Future, Our Lambeth.

With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment.

Please have a look at our dedicated One Lambeth Values and Behaviours page.

About the Team

We are seeking to recruit a social worker who will join The Lambeth Substance Misuse Team, which works in close partnership with Lambeth Consortium, Drug and Alcohol Service based at Lorraine Hewitt House in Brixton.

The Substance Misuse Team is based within a multidisciplinary team, made up of nurses, psychologists, addictions psychiatrists, drug and alcohol workers and social workers. The service provides support and advice to anyone over 18 with a drug or alcohol problem. Services available include: individual assessments, prescribing to support recovery, psychology and counselling services, recovery groups, community and inpatient detox, rehabilitations services as well as abstinence based treatment and aftercare services. In addition to this the Substance Misuse Social Work Team undertake Care Act assessments for HMP Brixton and social work within the Homeless Hostels.

The Substance Misuse Team is a relatively small but busy, dedicated team of qualified social workers who assess service users who are seeking support.

About the role

To promote strength base practice and positive change in people’s lives by using social work methods, models and tools, with the aims of helping them to be as independent as possible, recover from addiction and to manage risks of abuse and neglect.

To make professional judgements in the context of the relevant legal and policy frameworks

To work with people to carry out assessments of their needs for care and support, to plan how those needs will be met, to support them with putting those plans in to action, and review those plans and reassess needs

To carry out adult safeguarding enquiries, support the work of others involved in these enquiries, and to support people with care and support needs to develop and put in to action safeguarding plans appropriate to their wishes and circumstances

The role requires that you are a qualified social worker ideally with previous experience in working with in substance misuse sector, have excellent organisational and communication skills. You must be familiar with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and Care Act 2014. You will receive supervision from the practitioner manager. The hours are Monday to Friday 9am-5pm or as the service requires at 35hrs per week. There are opportunities to work from home and presence in the office is required 3-4 days per week.

How to Apply:

To be considered for interview, your CV and supporting statement will clearly evidence how you meet the shortlisting criteria on the personal specification marked “A” for application:

Job Description and Person Specification

We operate an anonymised application process, so be sure to remove personal details when uploading your CV or personal statement.

Recruitment Timelines:

Advert close date: 23:55pm on Sunday 5 July 2026

Please click here to view: Lambeth Staff Benefits

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion, please contact: Jason McDonald on 07763575624 or Catherine McManus, on 07720041987.

Successful candidates will be asked to apply for a Enhance Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information about the DBS can be found at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs

Adult Social Care in Lambeth is one of the highest performing services in the country. In 2026, we received a strong overall “Good” rating from the Care Quality Commission and our commitment to equity and inclusion in the borough was rated as “Outstanding”.

At Lambeth, we are dedicated to providing quality services and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to safer recruitment and are proud to be a Stonewall diversity champion, a Living Wage Employer, and