Boroughs in the capital have launched a new website promoting children’s social work career opportunities and seeking to attract “those ambitious for their careers and ambitious for young Londoners.”
The collaborative online platform London Social Work for Children means that – for the first time – all 33 London local authorities will post their job adverts for children’s social workers on a single site, bringing together the extensive and diverse range of opportunities on offer across the capital.
As well as being designed as a useful resource for children’s social workers interested in developing their careers, the website aims to appeal to those considering joining the profession. Content includes information on how to become a social worker, plus real-life stories of social workers making a positive difference to the lives of London’s children.
There are around 5,600 children’s social workers in the capital and London has the highest performing children’s social care departments of any region in England. In the most recent Ofsted inspections over 80% of London’s local authorities achieved a Good or Outstanding rating.
However, the sector also faces major challenges, as demand for support is increasing and vacancy rates are high. London Social Work for Children is the latest example of boroughs seeking to work together more closely. Through collaboration, boroughs are determined to reduce competition between one another over children’s social workers and to ensure all London’s services have the staff they need.
Cllr Ian Edwards, London Councils’ Executive Member for Children & Young People, said: “
Children’s social workers play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable young Londoners, ensuring they get the care and opportunities they need.
“It can be a challenging but also an immensely rewarding job. Boroughs want to recruit talented, dedicated social workers who are ambitious for their careers and ambitious for the children and young people they work with.
“Through this new collaborative website, boroughs are making it easier for those interested in opportunities to develop their social work careers in London, as well as supporting our drive as employers to attract and retain the staff we need in our local services.”
Nigel Chapman, Workforce Policy Lead for the Association of London Directors of Children’s Services, said:
“To achieve our collective ambitions for London’s children, we need our workforce to thrive.
“Through London Social Work for Children, each borough can celebrate its own unique identity and individual offer to social workers that is responsive to the need in their local area. Allowing each borough to play to its own strengths – while working together as a region as much as possible – helps us deliver better outcomes for all our children.”
