The Royal Borough of Greenwich is a vibrant area of Southeast London with a rich history and diverse culture. The town of Greenwich itself is a UNESCO world heritage site that is home to the Prime Meridian Line, Royal Observatory, and the Cutty Sark ship. In 2012, the borough was named as the first new Royal Borough for more than 80 years.
Royal Greenwich is a great place to live and work, with the main Council offices based in the heart of Woolwich – which featured in 2023's Sunday Times Best Places to Live list. Benefiting from excellent transport links from National Rail, the DLR, the Elizabeth line and the Uber boat, we’re one of the easiest boroughs to reach and navigate your way around.
The Borough is known for its expansive parks and green spaces – there are over 50 within our boundaries! Other unique landmarks in Royal Greenwich include the Thames Barrier - a engineering marvel that protects London from flooding – and the O2 Arena, one of the world’s busiest venues.
We have strong social work values and well embedded corporate parenting principles with a robust commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Our small teams and manageable caseloads mean that you will be supported with regular good quality supervision.
Consistently rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, we pride ourselves on having an innovative learning culture dedicated to improving outcomes for children, young people, care leavers and their families supported by our dynamic Greenwich Practice Academy.
Our Practice Framework embeds compassionate and systemic approaches to practice. We have used this framework to increase support and well-being in our social work community as well as prioritising inclusion, equality and practical support for families. We have a team of systemic facilitators who are leading on embedding the framework through training and upskilling the workforce
We have a diverse workforce and strive for this to be reflected in our leadership roles. We have an active Tackling Structural Racism group, EDI Listening Space and are leading on the reverse mentoring project with the South East London Teaching Partnership with global majority social workers mentoring White Leaders.
In order to embed systemic ideas, facilitators are attached to all teams and run fortnightly practice meetings across Children’s Services.
An integrated mental health team with health colleagues supporting children and social workers with emerging, low to moderate mental health needs.
We grow our own and support our Social Workers to reach their career aspirations. We have recently recruited Practice Leaders and are pleased to share that 85% are internal candidates.
Our young people have secured places at leading universities, have been selected to join the Civil Service, have won the Children's Achievement Award from Children and Young People and another young person who arrived as an unaccompanied minor from Afghanistan played professional cricket with an international organisation. The Koestler Arts award featured one of our young person's artwork pieces as their main exhibit. Our Fostering team won an impact award at the National Children and Young People Awards for their pioneering work with the digital life story app, ‘CaringLife’.
With excellent training and great benefits, Royal Greenwich is the ideal place to progress your social worker career. Our generous benefits package includes:
A senior leadership team who take time to know front-line staff, listen to their views and celebrate excellent work.
Small teams allowing more direct support and supervision time from your Team Leader
An innovative and aspirational Practice Academy dedicated to providing creative learning solutions and a comprehensive offer to support you to achieve your career ambitions including bursaries to undertake systemic training
Access to Research in Practice website, training and resources and new initiatives
Rota Days equating (FTE) to an additional 10 days off per year
Travel costs worth £1k+, OR essential car user car parking (close to the workplace).
Royal Greenwich Keyworker housing (after being employed for six months, subject to application and meeting criteria).
Excellent pension scheme (LGPS).
Cycle to Work Scheme.
Childcare vouchers.
Greenwich One Card gives you access to a wide range of discounts on products and services at participating local businesses, shops, cafes and restaurants. Discounted gym membership.
Opportunities to join cross-sectional staff Task and Finish groups to improve practice and procedures.
We have an ongoing commitment to supporting staff and ensuring equality and diversity in the workplace.
Staff networks and forums to support and encourage networking between staff with shared interests.
We are looking to recruit experienced, qualified social workers, who are registered with Social Work England, to join our stable and committed Children’s Services workforce.
Make a difference to our children’s futures, your future and ours.