Becoming a Social Worker

Social work with children, families and young people is both rewarding and challenging. Working with the more vulnerable members of the community you will be helping to change lives for the better.

Browse and apply for current Newham social worker vacancies

As a social worker you could be making regular visits to families, running support groups for parents, working in children's homes, or managing the processes of foster care or adoption.

You may also work with young people who need support as they leave care, or are at risk or in trouble with the law.

The role requires knowledge of the statutory duties of child protection and child care law, which are learnt during an initial degree, and developed throughout your career.


Working in Newham

• Newham offers social workers an opportunity to practice their social work, develop their skills and use their knowledge to the full. It's a challenging environment but one where the rewards are high.
  
  
• Our remuneration package is comparable with other local authorities but with our career progression model a social worker can start in training at PO1 with the prospect of progression through competence and experience to PO4.
  
  
• A career grade structure allowing experienced practitioners to progress in front line roles as well as in management. We provide high quality supervision, time for continuing professional development and manageable workloads.
  
  
• Our new and innovative approach offers social workers unrivalled support and development, coupled with real opportunities for career progression.
  
  
• Our new and dynamic Consulting Social Worker roles enable excellent social workers to remain in practice rather than feel compelled to take a managerial position in order to advance their career.
  
  
• For less experienced social workers, we are part of the national Newly Qualified Social Worker Induction programme, and are also working to ensure that further support is provided to social workers in their second and third years of practice.
  
  
• A newly qualified social worker joining our service will receive support and development for the first three years of their social work career as they develop their skills and experience. We are committed to continuing professional development and fund a large number of social workers through the post qualification framework.
  

• Newham is also an exciting borough to live and work. It is the focus of billions of pounds of investment with developments like Stratford City, Canning Town and Custom House and the 2012 Games.
  
  
• If you are looking to re-locate to Newham we can offer you some financial assistance provided that your current residence does not have a London post code, and is at least 25 miles distance from the borough boundaries OR you currently live one hour's train travel time from your place of work.