The City of London (the Square Mile) is the historic centre of London, home to St Paul’s Cathedral, the Bank of England, the Mansion House, the Barbican Estate and Centre, five bridges including Tower Bridge and Millennium Bridge, and much more.
With some of the best transport links in London, the Square Mile is well connected with the West End, Canary Wharf, London Bridge, Liverpool Street and further afield through the Elizabeth Line, Bank Junction and many others.
The Square Mile is often referred to as unique for many reasons, key among them is the make up of its community. Just under 9000 residents call the Square Mile home, but over half a million work there each day (prior to the pandemic) and more than ten million visit each year.
Based in the Guildhall, the governing body of the Square Mile, the City of London Corporation is equally unique. We have our own government (the oldest in the country), our own Lord Mayor and an independent police force.
We are dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK.
The department of Community and Children’s Services is responsible for the delivery of Children’s Services. We contribute to a flourishing society by ensuring that ‘people are safe and feel safe, enjoy good health and wellbeing, have equal opportunities to enrich their lives and reach their full potential’. We also ensure that ‘communities are cohesive and have the facilities they need whilst having excellent access to skills and talent’.
The City of London Corporation’s main offices are at the Guildhall in the City of London, but we also offer hybrid working arrangements. Download our map of how to get to Guildhall.
Network rail stations
Moorgate (nine-minute walk)
London Cannon Street (ten-minute walk)
Blackfriars (fourteen-minute walk)
Liverpool Street (16-minute walk)
Fenchurch Street (16-minute walk)
London Bridge (25-minute walk)
Tube stations
Bank (five-minute walk (Central, Northern, Waterloo and City lines)
St Pauls (five-minute walk (Central line)
Mansion House (six-minute walk (Circle and District lines)
Moorgate (nine-minute walk (Circle, Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan, Northern lines)
Cannon Street (ten-minute walk (Circle and District lines)
"Our vision for children and young people is that ‘the City of London is a place where children and young people feel safe, have good mental health and wellbeing, fulfil their potential and are ready for adulthood whilst growing up with a sense of belonging."
Children and Young People’s Plan 2022-25
We want children and young people to work with us to help make the City of London a better place for children, young people, and their families.
Children’s Services are reinforced through strong working relationships with our Family of Schools, our one Outstanding state-maintained school, an extensive Early Years service, our local health and care system and local sporting facilities. Our children and young people also have access to excellent opportunities for learning and enjoy a fantastic cultural offer.
What it’s like to work in Children’s Social Care at the City of London
Social Workers join ‘Children’s Services [that] are outstanding’ according to Ofsted. For children in care and care leavers, leaders’ impact and overall, we are rated outstanding.
Our smaller population often means that our Social Workers are able to develop strong relationships with children and young people. We are proud to say that our ‘Social Workers know the children very well and have worked with some for a long period’ of time. There is one social care team and one early help team. This means social workers support children and families throughout the different thresholds of need, and there are no systemic delays/transition points. The Senior Management team is stable and know the daily lived experience of children well.
We are a small, tight knit team which cover the area of the City of London which is a square mile in size. Our case load is predominately refugee and asylum seeking children and children with disabilities. We also cover the full range of cases including Child in Need, Looked After Children/Care Leavers, Private fostering, and Court work. This means that you will work with our children’s families for the entirety of their involvement in our service, allowing you to form deep and meaningful relationships.
In City of London Children’s Services we have a strong focus on relationship based practice and draw upon Systemic Social Work. We have a Systemic family therapist who joins our team for group supervision and is also available for 1:1 sessions once per week, meaning there are many opportunities for you to seek guidance.
The City of London is a vibrant and diverse borough and for this reason we are committed to practicing in an anti-discriminatory way
The opportunity to work in an Ofsted-rated Outstanding Children’s Social Care team
Manageable caseloads and an Outstanding leadership team
Remote and flexible working options
All staff undertake at least level one in systemic practice.
Staff each take a lead role, developing expertise and leadership in this area
The training offer is bespoke and of high quality and impact for children
An interest-free annual season ticket loan and bicycle loan
A wide range of in-house and external courses to help with professional and personal development (including discounted language lessons) (non-social work related)
Corporate rates for gym membership; our own private staff sports and social club; free entry to Hampstead Heath Lido and ponds; Employee Assistance Programme
Free entry to Tower Bridge exhibition and Guildhall Art Gallery; discounts at the Barbican cinema; West End theatre offers
Access to offers and discounts at restaurants, bars and retailers in the City of London
Access to Xexec Benefits Portal for you and up to five family/friends
Two days a year for volunteering though our internal scheme; payroll giving scheme
A minimum annual leave entitlement of 24 days plus eight bank/public holidays (full time equivalent)
Access to our CityWell health and wellbeing programme
Many schemes and policies to support a good work-life balance
A range of staff networks
We also offer the Local Government Pension Scheme. Here’s what you get out of it:
Your employer shares the cost
You receive protection and security on ill-health, family and dependants
There’s no investment risk – this is a pension based on your pay and length of service
Your pension increases with inflation so the value of your pension is protected.
