Social Work Assistant

Overview

Salary range: £40,182 - £42,060 p.a. inc. London weighting

Contract:

Permanent

Hours of work: 36 hours per week

Location:

Civic centre and other locations from time to time

Make a real difference to the lives of children and young people with disabilities in Brent.

Brent is a tremendously vibrant London borough where the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium dominates the skyline. Spanning both inner and outer London, it is a borough of huge contrasts in terms of its economic, environmental, ethnic and social make up. Brent’s diversity is evident to all who visit our borough and our long history of ethnic and cultural diversity has created a place that is truly unique and valued by those who live and work here.

The council is pursuing a far-reaching transformation agenda that better meets the needs of our community so it is an exciting time to join us.

We are looking for a committed and compassionate Social Work Assistant to join our Short Breaks Service within Children and Young People (CYP). The role supports children and young people with disabilities and complex needs by ensuring families receive the right help, at the right time.

As part of this role you will:

• Undertake focused visits, gather vital information, and undertake review assessments that promote the welfare of children and young people, and recommend short breaks.
• Build strong working relationships with families, carers, health services, schools, voluntary agencies and other partners to support and safeguard children with disabilities.
• Ensure that the child’s voice and lived experience are central to all work.
• Work flexibly within a fast‑paced environment where excellent communication, problem‑solving and organisation skills are essential.

This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your skills, develop your confidence and play an active part in strengthening outcomes for local families.

The successful candidate will hold a qualification in childcare e.g. NNEB, NVQ Level 3, Access to Social Care NVQ Level with evidence of competencies of English and Maths. Or educated to A Level standard with English and Maths GCSE or equivalent.

We are also looking for someone who is:

• Child‑centred
  , empathetic and genuinely passionate about supporting vulnerable children and young people.
• Organised and reliable
  , able to prioritise competing tasks and work calmly under pressure.
• A strong communicator who can build rapport with families and present information clearly and sensitively.
• Analytical and curious
  , able to observe, record and escalate concerns appropriately.
• A collaborative team player
  , committed to working across agencies and supporting social work colleagues.
• Adaptable
  , with a positive approach to learning, reflection, and professional growth.

We know people achieve their best when they feed valued. At Brent, you’ll benefit from:

• Up to 33 days annual leave (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays
• Excellent pension with generous employer contributions
• Hybrid and flexible working options available for most roles
• Supportive family-friendly policies for parent, guardians, and carers
• Health and wellbeing support
  , including access to eye test support and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Financial support such as education sessions, childcare deposit loans, and season ticket loans
• Travel perks including affordable parking nearby, a Cycle to Work scheme, and great onsite facilities
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career
• Access to My Brent Rewards with exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, leisure, and entertainment

Closing date: 19 February 2026 (23:59)

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role, therefore, early application is advised.

If you are interested in applying for this job, please start by clicking the "Apply Now" button below. You must provide a supporting statement as part of your application that clearly shows how you meet the criteria on the Person Specification. We will accept a CV in support of your application, however, you should still provide a supporting statement.

Brent Council…