Description Salary range: £59,739 - £63,519 p.a. incl. London weighting Contract: Fixed Term Contract - 12 Months Hours of work: 36 hours per week Location: Civic Centre and The Turning Point Join Us as Principal Social Worker – Lead, Inspire, and Grow Your Career CYP is entering an exciting period of transformation, realigning services to better meet the needs of the children and families we serve. As our Principal Social Worker (PSW), you will play a pivotal leadership role in guiding our workforce through this change, ensuring staff are well-supported, well-trained, and empowered to deliver outstanding social work practice. Why Brent? Brent is a dynamic and diverse London borough where the iconic Wembley Stadium dominates the skyline. Spanning both inner and outer London, it is a place of contrasts—economically, environmentally, and culturally—creating a vibrant and rewarding environment in which to work. Our deep-rooted commitment to diversity, innovation, and community engagement makes Brent a unique and inspiring place to build your career. The council is driving a far-reaching transformation agenda to better serve our community—making this an exciting time to join us in a role that offers both challenge and opportunity. The Opportunity As Principal Social Worker, you will take a leading role in shaping and strengthening frontline practice. You will be instrumental in embedding “This is Brent CYP. This is how we grow” across our services, ensuring that our social workers receive the best possible learning and development opportunities. You will also oversee the professional development framework for the Children and Young People’s Directorate, making sure that all staff benefit from a culture of continuous growth and high-quality training. As a key leader within the organization, you will model best practices, drive innovation, and cultivate a culture of curiosity and collaboration. This role is not just about leading others—it’s about growing as a leader yourself, with access to ongoing professional development, mentorship, and strategic involvement in shaping Brent’s future. Who We’re Looking For You are a qualified, experienced social work professional with a strong track record in assessing risk, developing collaborative interventions, and leading change. You are committed to championing strengths-based practice and challenging unnecessary use of statutory power. Your creativity, persistence, and deep appreciation for the resilience of children and families set you apart as a leader. You thrive in a reflective and curious environment, where collaboration and innovation drive positive outcomes. As a mentor and advocate, you will inspire our workforce while continuously developing your own leadership skills. Grow With Us This is more than a job—it’s a career-defining opportunity to step into a leadership role where your work will directly impact lives. You will have the chance to shape the future of social work in Brent, influence policy, and drive systemic change, all while developing your own leadership expertise. Join us and be part of a team that values professional growth, innovative thinking, and making a real difference in the lives of children and families. Application Process Closing date: 04 May 2025 (23:59) Interview dates: W/C 26 May 2025 Our Offer to You In addition to your salary, you will also get to enjoy the following benefits: Flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home 2 days per week (laptop provided) 27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, increasing to 31 days plus 8 bank holidays after 5 years continuous service Very generous employer pension contribution A wide range of family friendly policies such as parental leave Access to our Zipcar scheme Access to our Employee Assistance programme for free confidential counselling Season ticket loan for public transport Cycle to work scheme and good onsite facilities Access to affordable parking nearby Access to My Brent Rewards for big brand discounts, local offers and money off for travel, cinema and shopping vouchers. Additional Information 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 values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this and therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community. We positively encourage all applicants to self-identify their characteristics in the diversity survey section in the application. We are committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that posts working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are subject to an Enhanced DBS check as well as other employment clearances. The information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas and your data protection rights, can be found here. Brent has a positive approach to flexible working. As a disability confident employer Brent welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including hidden disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on recruitmentbrent.gov.uk Job Description