Job Title: Senior Social Worker – NRPF Team (PO5)

Location: Newham, London
Salary: £52,194 - £55,323 (PO5)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Closing Date: 18^th May at 23:59

About Newham

At London Borough of Newham, we are committed to Building a Fairer Newham—a borough where every child, family and resident can thrive.

We are proud to be one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, and we are ambitious about delivering the best possible outcomes for our communities. Our children’s services have been recognised by Ofsted for strong leadership and a culture where good social work can flourish.

We are committed to anti-discriminatory practice, tackling inequality and disproportionality through our Tackling Racism, Inequality and Disproportionality (TRID) programme. Our practice is rooted in relationship-based, restorative approaches.

Our No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) service supports children and families who would otherwise be at risk of destitution. We work in partnership with families to build resilience, promote independence, and achieve sustainable outcomes.

A central part of our approach is Newham’s Circle of Support—a strengths-based model that brings together family networks, communities and professionals to create lasting change.

About the Role

As a Senior Social Worker in our NRPF team, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality services to children and families with complex needs, including those with NRPF status and those who have been made intentionally homeless.

You will hold a caseload of complex cases, lead on practice within the team, and support the development of others through coaching, mentoring and supervision. You will work within a restorative, relational practice framework, ensuring that interventions are strengths-based and focused on achieving the best outcomes.

You will also contribute to service development, quality assurance, and the embedding of Newham’s Circle of Support approach across the team.

Key Responsibilities

Manage a complex caseload involving families with NRPF and those who are intentionally homeless, ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing.
Complete high-quality statutory assessments, including Child in Need and Human Rights Assessments, in line with legal frameworks.
Develop and deliver strengths-based, outcome-focused plans that promote independence and reduce long-term reliance on services.
Work proactively with families facing housing instability, including those deemed intentionally homeless, to secure sustainable solutions.
Build strong partnerships with housing, legal services, Family Hubs, the Home Office, and voluntary organisations to provide coordinated support.
Respond to duty and crisis situations, ensuring timely interventions to prevent destitution and safeguard children.
Provide mentoring, coaching and supervision to social workers, ASYEs, and project workers, supporting their development.
Lead on quality assurance, including audits and performance monitoring, using data to drive improvement.
Champion anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring equity is embedded in all aspects of work.
Embed the Circle of Support model, ensuring work with families is relational, collaborative and community-focused.

About You

You are an experienced and reflective practitioner with a passion for improving outcomes for children and families.

You will bring:

A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
Significant post-qualifying experience in statutory children’s social care, including complex casework.
Strong knowledge of NRPF, immigration and housing legislation and safeguarding frameworks.
Experience of working with families facing destitution and housing instability, including intentionally homeless households.
The ability to lead practice, coach colleagues and contribute to a high-support, high-challenge culture.
Strong analytical and assessment skills, with the ability to make sound decisions in complex situations.
A clear commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and addressing inequality.
Experience of, or commitment to, working within strengths-based models such as Circle of Support.

Why Join Newham?

Be part of an Outstanding local authority delivering meaningful change.
Work within a strong, supportive practice framework where social work can flourish.
Access excellent learning, development and career progression opportunities.
Benefit from flexible/hybrid working arrangements.
Work in a service that values innovation, including our award-nominated Circle of Support model.
Make a real difference to children and families at risk of destitution.

TO APPLY

To apply please submit your CV and a supporting statement (1-2 sides of A4).

Shortlisting decisions will be based on candidates' relevant experience and on candidates' suitability for the role in line with the person specification, as described in their supporting statement and CV.

Please view JD

Closing date: 18.05.26 at 23:59

For an informal discussion, please contact:
Rosina Sibasa – Rosina.Sibasa@newham.gov.uk or Shipa Hussain – Shipa.Hussain@newham.gov.uk