Social Worker
Lewisham Council
£44430.00-46437.00 per year
London, Greater London, SE6 4RU, United Kingdom
Full time
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Respectful managers
About Lewisham Council
Lewisham Council is a local authority in London. They oversee local services.
Job description from Lewisham Council
Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!
We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK's first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.
Exciting Social Work opportunities within Lewisham Council
About Us
Lewisham is a vibrant and diverse borough that offers dynamic career opportunities. We are dedicated to providing exemplary services to our residents, with our staff being our greatest asset. Lewisham boasts strong partnerships and a history of collaborative commitment.
Adult Social Care is focused on delivering high quality support to adults requiring our services within the borough. We champion innovative approaches and strive for continuous improvement, ensuring our practices remain at the cutting edge.
If you are seeking an environment committed to your professional development and growth, Lewisham is the place for you. With robust supervision and opportunities for reflection and skill enhancement, you can pursue your desired career path here.
We currently have vacancies for Social Workers in the following areas:
- Gateway & MASH (Front Door and Safeguarding)
- Hospital Discharge and Discharge to Assess
- Neighbourhoods
- Older Adults Mental Health
- Adults with Learning Difficulties, Autism and Transitions
- Placement Reviews
Role Overview
As a Social Worker, you will play a pivotal role in supporting adults throughout their lives. Your responsibilities will include:
- Complex Case Work: Conducting Mental Capacity (MCA) Assessments, Court of Protection applications, and s42 safeguarding enquiries.
- Positive Risk Support: Encouraging individuals to take calculated risks while aiming for the least restrictive interventions.
- Collaborative Working: Partnering with service providers and stakeholders to deliver holistic support.
- Strength-Based Approach: Undertaking complex assessments, setting personal goals and outcomes, and evaluating their effectiveness.
- Person-Centred Decisions: Ensuring the individual's wishes are central to every decision.
- Resource Management: Identifying community and commissioned services to meet eligible needs within budget constraints.
What's in it for you?
- Innovative Environment: Be part of a team that embraces new ideas and methodologies.
- Professional Development: Access opportunities for ongoing learning and career advancement.
- Supportive Team: Collaborate with dedicated professionals.
- Impactful Work: Make a significant difference in the lives of adults with Learning Disabilities and Autism.
- Excellent Benefits: Enjoy generous holiday allowances, a Local Government Pension scheme, flexible working and family-friendly policies, season ticket and bicycle loans, local subsidised gym memberships, and supportive staff networks.
What We're Looking For
We seek experienced Social Workers who are motivated to help us achieve our service users' outcomes and transform lives.
- Empowerment: Foster choice and control over individuals' support needs.
- Commitment: Focus on individuals' strengths and networks rather than solely assessing for services and eligibility.
- Person-Centred: Support people's goals and aspirations, promoting independence and community connection.
- Professional Curiosity: Value thoughtful and balanced consideration in all situations.
- Development: Commit to skill and expertise enhancement to provide superior service.
Join Us
If you are enthusiastic about delivering exceptional support to adults and wish to join a passionate, forward-thinking team, we would love to hear from you. Apply now and become part of our mission to make a positive impact!
Location
The job is primarily based on Lewisham Sites including the hospital but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.
Special conditions
- Relevant Social Work qualification is needed
- Qualified and Registered Social Worker
- The job is subject to an enhanced DBS check
The recruitment process is anonymous and we don't accept CV's.
Applicant handbook - please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.
For an informal discussion about this job, please contact Mary Farinha, Service Group Manager on 0208 314 9287 or mary.farinha@lewisham.gov.uk
Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification
Please click here to see why Lewisham is the place to work within Adult Social Care
Salary
£44,430 - £46,437 per annum (SW).
N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.
Diversity
Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply
The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email JobsAndSkills@lewisham.gov.uk and an advisor will be in touch with you.
The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.
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What employees say
Pay
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Good
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Most people are paid a living wage
Do Lewisham Council pay a living wage?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
71% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 14 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
-
Most people are paid market rates
Do Lewisham Council pay market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
94% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Okay
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Only some people get paid breaks
Do workers at Lewisham Council get paid breaks?
Sometimes. Only some people get paid breaks.
How we know this
35% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Good
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Most people get sick pay
Do Lewisham Council pay sick pay?
Yes. Most people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
93% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Hours and flexibility
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Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Lewisham Council?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
75% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Good
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Most people find it easy to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Lewisham Council?
Most people find it easy to take sick leave.
How we know this
73% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do people at Lewisham Council feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
67% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Okay
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Only some people get proper breaks
Do people at Lewisham Council get proper breaks?
Some people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
35% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at Lewisham Council?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
75% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
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Most people enjoy their job
Do people at Lewisham Council enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
82% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2023 and June 2025.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Lewisham Council recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
47% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Okay
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Only some people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Lewisham Council?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
53% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Lewisham Council?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 53% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think Lewisham Council head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
80% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Lewisham Council is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
47% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and June 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Lewisham Council employees say about their job
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Best thing
it's rewarding to help children who need it
Worst thing
bullying, negligence and apathy among staff members
Teaching assistant at Lewisham Council, June 2025
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Best thing
Helping families especially the children
Worst thing
Hours
Paperwork
Not all staff get treated the sameSocial worker at Lewisham Council, March 2025
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