• Vacancy Reference Number
    2235
  • End Date:
    24 Feb 2026 at 23:59
  • All Departments
    Children and Young People
  • Advertising Salary
    £42,912 - £51,228 (SO2/PO3)
  • Contract Type
    Permanent
  • Hours Per Week
    35
  • Working Pattern
    Full time

About The Role

 Islington’s Permanency team has a vacant position based in the support side of the team, offering support to our kinship carers as well as finding the right long term foster family for children who remain in care. The successful candidate will sometimes be required to undertake Connected Persons' assessments too. 

The team plays a pivotal role in finding the right permanent carers for children who cannot live with their parents. We undertake detailed assessments with family members and friends who want to step in to offer permanent care for children under Special Guardianship Orders. Social workers in the support side provide practical and emotional support to special guardian carers (SG) following an Order being made. This role also involves finding the most suitable long-term foster families for children who cannot live with their families.

The team is dedicated to supporting children to remain living within their families or close friends network and it is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that is making a real difference in the community.

Duties and Responsibilities of the role. 

Social workers in the assessment side of the team are responsible for writing good quality, clear and evidence-based assessments, within tight timescales and give evidence in court based on your assessment. If children are placed with family under Regulation 24 while the assessment is being carried out, the allocated social worker is responsible for carrying out supervisory visits to the carers, supporting them to meet the regulatory standards and then presenting them to the Fostering Panel to be recommended for approval as foster carers.

As a social worker in the support side of the team, you will hold a small, time-limited caseload, providing vital support to SG carers, sign posting them to universal services, providing training opportunities to carers and applying to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) for therapeutic intervention.

There is a strong emphasis on relationship based social work with families in Islington, building on a strength-based approach. The whole service is trained in Motivational Social Work and Dyadic Development Psychotherapy (DDP) and you will be offered training to enable you to work in this model. You will also take part in group supervision using this model, supported by a CAMHS clinician. Social workers on both sides of the team will be responsible for facilitating special guardianship support groups and PACE for parenting training (playful, affirmation/acceptance, curious, empathy).

Requirements

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

  • a recognised social work qualification (DipSW, Social Work Degree, or equivalent),
  • registered with Social Work England.
  • experience of working in a children’s and families setting, preferably with experience of adoption, special guardianship or family placements.
  • knowledge of childcare legislation and statutory guidance relating to kinship care, fostering, and current issues in provision of services to looked after children. 
  • the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing and undertake clear, evidence-based assessments on prospective family and friends foster carers and special guardians, and provide good quality support to carers.
  • For fuller details of the responsibilities of these social worker positions, please refer to the attached person specification.

The team 

We are a lively, enthusiastic and welcoming team, and there are opportunities for ongoing development and learning. We have a dedicated service to build on the level of post placement support that we provide to Special Guardian carers.

Our team lives by our CARE values: Collaborative, Ambitious, Resourceful, and Empowering. These aren’t just words, but principles that guide our work every day. As an assessing and support social worker, you’ll be an integral part of this team, working together to succeed for Islington. You’ll collaborate with diverse teams, contribute to ambitious projects, utilise your resourcefulness, and feel empowered to make decisions.

At Islington Council, we believe that every team member brings something unique to the table. As an assessing and support social worker your ideas will be valued, your work will be respected, and your contribution will be recognised. We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong.

Proposed Interview dates for Motivational I interviews: Tuesday 10th March 2025
 

For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact:

Maureen Molloy - Team Manager  

Email [email protected] 

Phone Number - 0207 527 4408

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. 

Our offer to you
 
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. Our staff benefits include:
  • 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!
Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.
 
Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
 
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

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.
 
Safeguarding
 
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
 
The post is subject to a enhanced DBS check with children/adult barred list, Social Work England/HCPC registration, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing. 
 
Disability Confident Scheme
Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.
GCHQ Disability Confident Leader - GCHQ ...

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