Social Worker - Locality Social Work Team

Posted 22nd Oct, 2026

Location

Kensington and Chelsea

Working pattern

Full-time – Full-time hours per week

Working arrangements

Blended

8th Nov, 2026

Incentives

This role includes a £2,500 Child Protection allowance (applicable at both the minimum and maximum of the pay scale).

About the role

Support children and families across the borough, guiding them through life's challenges and helping them build brighter futures. As a Social Worker in the Locality Social Work Team at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), you’ll work directly with children and families to help them find stability, safety and opportunity — seeing each child's journey in full, from first assessment through to long-term planning.

This is hands-on, purposeful work where no two days are the same, and where your judgement, compassion and persistence can make a lasting difference in a child's life. You’ll be part of a supportive, collaborative service that’s proud to have maintained an Outstanding rating for over a decade. It's an exciting time to join as RBKC moves forward with national Social Care Reforms — shaping how even better services are delivered for families.

You’ll manage a varied caseload, providing high-quality social work across all stages of a child's journey. Your approach will combine empathy and professionalism, helping families overcome challenges and ensuring children are safe, supported and heard.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing cases across Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked After Children and court work
• Participating in a locality-based duty system and collaborating with partner agencies for a joined-up response
• Maintaining accurate, timely case recording, financial transactions and clear documentation
• Representing the service in meetings and court, and contributing to working groups
• Staying up to date with legislation, policy and best practice

At RBKC, we’re all in — investing in our people, our communities and our future. You’ll be valued, supported and encouraged to thrive, with access to regular supervision, peer learning, and training and development programmes including Systemic Practice and leadership pathways. You’ll also benefit from the We Are Learning Hub, flexible working options, generous leave and a workplace culture built on respect and trust.

You’ll be based in the borough four days a week, with one day a week from home. New hires will normally start at the minimum of the pay scale; however, a higher starting salary may be negotiated where a candidate demonstrates exceptional skills, knowledge, or experience.

About you

RBKC is looking for a dedicated and compassionate Social Worker who shares its core values of putting communities first, respecting others, acting with integrity and working together to achieve the best outcomes for families. Whether experienced or newly qualified, the right candidate will bring the drive, empathy and professionalism that this fast‑paced, rewarding role demands.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
• Have an up‑to‑date Enhanced DBS check covering both children and adults
• Have experience of child protection or statutory childcare work, or — if newly qualified — a relevant placement demonstrating readiness for practice
• Demonstrate strong skills in risk assessment, communication and relationship-building
• Be able to work sensitively with children, families and professionals
• Show strong organisation, resilience and attention to detail when managing complex cases and competing demands
• Be confident using IT systems and able to plan effectively for children’s long‑term needs

RBKC is committed to promoting…