Work in Children's Social Care - Camden Careers
Work in Children's Family Help and Safeguarding
Join our Children's Family Help and Safeguarding team and be part of a team implementing real social change, who are committed to making children’s and families' lives better within the borough.
Our Children's Family Help and Safeguarding Service works with people living in Camden, under the age of 18 and their families who may need some support to achieve this. We also work with care leavers and children with disabilities up to the age of 25.
We have been rated outstanding by Ofsted and are continually looking to innovate and maintain these standards. Read more here: London Social Work for Children
What makes us different – why Camden?
We believe Camden is one of the best places you can develop your career in Children's Family Help and Safeguarding. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Reimbursement of the cost of Social Work England Fees for all qualified social work staff.
- Payment of a travel allowance equivalent to the cost of a Zone 1 and 2 travelcard - currently £1,628.
- Working in the heart of London in a vibrant location with brilliant transport links.
- Care experience recognised as a ‘protected characteristic’ by Camden.
- Camden Children’s Safeguarding and Social Work Learning Academy that provides a framework to deliver workforce development activity and our learning and development programme.
- Opportunity to progress to an Advanced Social Worker Role, which will include developing an area of specialism and support team development.
- Strong values and ethos informed by our 'systemic' model of social work, based on strong relationships between social workers and families and informed by their experiences.
Relational practice forms the basis of many working relationships within Camden, including Camden’s well-being offer to social work staff. This includes:
- Support for social workers from managers, who can refer staff to clinicians at the Tavistock Clinic for counselling if needed.
- Camden’s comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme that also offers counselling.
- A regular social work “health check” to measure the wellbeing of the workforce.
- Listening boxes and surveys to gather feedback from staff.
- Wellbeing passport for carers, disabled staff (with both visible and non-visible disabilities), staff with long-term health conditions, and staff experiencing mental ill health.
Our Values and Approach
Our Children's Family Help and Safeguarding Service values are that we put children and families at the heart of our practice, which is the core of systemic practice. Our staff are central to our success and are involved every step of the way. Their work supports improved outcomes for children, their families, and care leavers.
We use a unique way of working called the Camden Model of Social Work, which is a 'systemic' model of social work, based on strong relationships between social workers and families and informed by their experiences.
This approach focuses on:
- understanding the pressures people are facing and being responsive to them.
- working with families as experts in their own lives.
- ensuring positive and timely change for children.
- relationships, networks, and community collaboration via Family Group Conferences.
- putting people at the heart of everything that we do.
Read more about the Camden Systemic Tree.
Our teams
There is a wide range of people who draw on Children's Family Help and Safeguarding, so we have lots of different teams and careers to choose from. If you want a job that makes a real difference, we are confident there is a role for you here.
Experienced social workers
For experienced social workers, you will have access to the wide learning and training opportunities detailed above.
You can also train to get your Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS.) We allocate practice assessors to social workers undertaking the postgraduate Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS 1 & 2).
Newly qualified social workers
Camden is part of the North Central London Social Work Education Partnership that provides the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment programme (ASYE.)
The programme aims to ensure that newly qualified social workers get the support they need to develop their practice in a safe working environment. The programme is delivered in Camden by the ASYE coordinator and specially trained experienced social workers who have qualified as Practice Assessors and who are allocated to every NQSW to provide support and who will assess the social worker’s progress over the 12 months of the programme.
Find out more about the programme.
Read about two recently qualified social workers who have completed their ASYE at Camden, and about life as a social work professional in the early stages of their career.
Our learning and development offer
Camden is committed to creating the conditions for social workers to thrive in Camden.
Our offer includes opportunities to:
- Introduce Systemic Practice: The Camden Model of Social Work for all new starters joining the Children's Family Help and Safeguarding Service.
- Full cross-team induction training.
- A comprehensive core social work training offer provided in partnership with the Learning and Development Service.
- Opportunities for post-qualifying study including The Tavistock Clinic or the Institute of Family Therapy.
Our stories
Camilla Jarvis - Consultant Social Worker
Emmanuel Umeh - Assessing and Supervising Social Worker
Julie Holleman - Service Manager, Children’s Looked After Service
Glen Anicke - Children and Families Social Worker, Assessed and Supported Year in Placement
Interested in joining us?
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach us at, childrensocialworkrecruitment@camden.gov.uk.
We also offer for experienced social workers, an open conversation with a service manager and a walk through of Camden’s buildings.
What to expect after applying
Camden interviews for Children's Family Help and Safeguarding follow a standard structure. The interviews will be held in Camden, with the option of a virtual interview if needed. You will be working in the heart of London in a vibrant location with brilliant transport links.
After applying, you should expect to hear back from the team as to whether or not you were successful in 2 weeks. If you need additional support for the interview, please contact the resourcing manager detailed in the job description.
If successful, you will be subject to our Camden pre-employment checks, which include reference checks, Enhanced DBS, Right to Work and professional qualification verification. We aim to complete this process within 4-6 weeks.
Current roles in Children's Family Help and Safeguarding
Please keep an eye on our Camden jobs page for current roles we are recruiting for.
Current Vacancies can be found below:
Experienced Social Worker – Children Services – rolling advert (this advert will close once all vacancies are filled)
Find out more about our recruitment opportunities on the London Social Work for Children website.