Kingston upon Thames & Richmond upon Thames
Working pattern
Full-time – 36 hours per week
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
25th Oct, 2026
Incentives
This role is subject to a £3,000 welcome bonus plus a £3,000 annual market supplement.
About the role
Achieving for Children (AfC) is seeking a Social Worker to join its Safeguarding team, working across Kingston and Richmond. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a service that has achieved an Outstanding rating from Ofsted in December 2024 — Kingston’s second consecutive Outstanding rating — a true reflection of the commitment to ensuring children and young people across the borough have a fairer start in life.
As the service undergoes an exciting transformation, this role offers a dynamic environment with opportunities to transition into different teams as the structure evolves. The successful candidate will work with children and young people subject to Child Protection and Child in Need plans, building strong relationships with families, support networks, and partner agencies. Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting children and young people who are subject to Child Protection plans and Child in Need plans
- Understanding when to transfer cases from the Safeguarding team to the Permanence team
- Building strong and respectful working relationships with families, their support network, and partner agencies
- Undertaking regular assessment writing, threshold application, home visits, direct work, care planning, chairing meetings, and case recording in line with policies and procedures
- Ensuring that children and young people are actively involved in the work and that their voice is captured in case recording
AfC is focused on creating a positive, supportive environment, where staff have access to a wide range of resources, a competitive salary, and the technology and equipment to enable hybrid working. Benefits include 29 days annual leave (rising to 33 days after two years and 35 days after four years), free parking at your main place of work, a local government pension scheme (LGPS), a minimum of 12 protected Development Days each year, and a huge range of additional professional development opportunities as part of the regional Social Work Teaching Partnership.
About you
AfC is looking for a committed and resilient social worker who is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people. The successful candidate will bring both professional competence and a genuine commitment to inclusion, diversity, and child-centred practice. The ideal candidate will:
- Hold a relevant Social Work qualification
- Have completed the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)
- Hold active Social Work England registration
- Be an effective communicator, able to build strong relationships with children, families, and partner agencies
- Be a resilient worker, able to work effectively in a team or independently, taking ownership and responsibility for assigned cases
- Be confident and competent with the relevant statutory and regulatory framework, with knowledge of an appropriate range of professional interventions
- Be able to evidence championing inclusion and diversity whilst making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people
- Be solution focused with the ability to deal with sensitive issues
Achieving for Children is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
About Kingston upon Thames
Achieving for Children (AfC) is a community interest company (a not-for-profit social enterprise) created in 2014 by the Royal Borough of Kingston and the London Borough of Richmond to provide their children’s services. In 2017, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead joined AfC as our third owner.
We deliver the full range of children’s services for the three councils. Achieving for Children is a great place to work for those looking for a new challenge. Our offer to you includes:
A role in an organisation that is supportive
An induction offer that starts before you join and includes a welcome event on your first day of employment.
29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after two years and 35 days after four years
Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
Hybrid or mobile working and the technology and equipment to facilitate this
Positions available in three of the most desirable boroughs in the south – discrete relocation packages are available for selected roles
Travel assistance package for business use, including car and cycle mileage reimbursement, annual season ticket loan or business Oyster cards
Two days accredited Signs of Safety Foundation Training
12 protected Development Days each year for all staff
Access to a huge range of additional professional development opportunities as part of our regional Social Work Teaching Partnership
On occasions we are in the position to offer some additional financial payments for particularly hard to place roles in selected service areas of AfC.
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