Principal Social Worker, Academy & Systemic Lead

Salary Range: £55,832 - £65,350
Job Level: Level 5, Zone 2 
Work Location: 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG
Hours per week: 36
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: Monday 9th October 2023; 23;59
Interviews to be held: 23rd and 25th October
Alternative flexible working options available / open to discussion

Anonymised Application – in keeping with Camden’s commitment to inclusion the recruitment to this role is anonymised and supports the objective of reducing the impact of unconscious bias.

Inclusive Recruitment Pilot

In keeping with Camden’s commitment to Conscious Inclusion, we are taking positive action to improve diversity at our senior levels. One of the measures we have committed to is making sure we don’t have any All-White shortlists for leadership roles. 

The recruitment to this role will form part of that pilot, to support our desire to increase the number of staff from underrepresented groups in senior roles within the council. If you are a Black, Asian or Other Ethnic candidate and would like to self-declare this as part of our positive action commitments, please do so. For further information, please email the resourcing team at resourcing@camden.gov.uk

About us 

Camden is building somewhere everyone can thrive, by making our borough the best place to live, work, study and visit. Because, we’re not just home to UK’s fast-growing economy. We’re home to the most important conversations happening today. And we’re making radical social change a reality, so that nobody gets left behind. Here’s where you can help decide a better future for us all.

The role

As the Principal Social Worker, you will have responsibility for the CSSW Academy in collaboration with the Head of Service and contribute to and support the planning and implementation of:

• Routes into social work, students, ASYE programme for NQSWs 
• Practice educators
• Career progression including post graduate development, leadership development, coaching and mentoring.
• Workforce development and reform
• Recruitment and retention strategies. 
• Ensuring compliance with national and professional standards.
• Supporting service development and research projects

As Lead Clinician, you will be responsible for the strategic leadership for the Camden Model of Social Work and anti-racist practice. Also: 

• You will lead on the training of systemic ideas and practices across children’s services, supporting all the teams that are working within a clear systemic framework of the Camden Model of Social Work
• You will also deliver therapeutic interventions alongside social workers and support the development of practitioners’ skills in this area.
• To lead in improving practice quality through embedding the Camden Model of Social work and offering mentoring, coaching and consultation where required.  
• This post has responsibility the ongoing development and implementation of the Camden Model of social work in a way that is consistent with systemic ideas and practices.

You will also become the voice for social work within the management team and with external stakeholders, offering positive challenge to decision makers where needed.  You will maintain visible leadership across the children’s social work workforce, ensuring the service upholds social work values and standards, and supports its practitioners.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require an Enhanced DBS.

About you

To be considered for this role, you will need a Social Work Qualification – CQSW/ Dip SW/ Degree in Social Work and UKCP recognised qualification in family and systemic psychotherapy. You will also need to be registered with Social Work England with demonstrable relevant post qualification experience of working within Children’s Services.

You will need to have a strong commitment to anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice. As well as an active awareness of self, relational and epistemological reflexivity, and the way in which personal and professional stories can impact children and families and professional relationships.

You will be a natural born leader with the ability to manage, lead and motivate staff and foster their development and to relate and work with people at all levels. You will be able to relate everyday practice issues to the wider strategic context, and ability to apply theory to practice and shape the practice of others. You will also need to have a high level of communication skills with the ability to convey complex information in accessible form, including presenting to large internal/external groups.

To find out more about what it is like to work at Camden, meet some of our People by visiting 'www.camdenjobs.co.uk/our-stories'.

Working for Camden

We’re ready to welcome your ideas, your views, and your rebellious spirit. Help us redefine how we’re supporting people, and we’ll redefine what a career can be.

If that sounds good to you, we’d love to talk.

At Camden, you’ll receive a host of benefits as well as joining a flexible working employer. Visit 'www.camdenjobs.co.uk/staff-benefits' to see full details of our benefits.

Additional information

To view the Job Profile, please CLICK HERE or copy and paste the below URL into your browser: http://camdocs.camden.gov.uk/HPRMWebDrawer/Record/10187956/file/document?inline 

To apply for this job please follow the "Apply" link. In the ‘Why you?’ section of the application you will be required to demonstrate how you meet the role criteria noted in the Job Profile under the “About You” section. 

Inclusion and Diversity

We want Camden Council to be a great place to work and to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.

To discover more about Camden and our commitment towards diversity, equality and safeguarding, please visit 'www.camdenjobs.co.uk/staff-benefits'.

Asking for Adjustments 

Camden is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please contact us on 020 7974 6655, at resourcing@camden.gov.uk or post to 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG