Social worker jobs in London

Location: Hybrid, London with flexibility to work remotely

About the role

At SSAFA, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. As awareness of safeguarding continues to grow, so does the need to provide expert advise and guidance to colleagues and volunteers who work with beneficiaries facing complex and often challenging situations involving safeguarding concerns.

As a Safeguarding Social Worker, you will play a key role in strengthening safeguarding practice across the charity. Working closely with the Principal Safeguarding Officer and wider Safeguarding team, you'll act as part of SSAFA's Safeguarding Single Point of Contact (SPOC) service, helping to lead the organisation's response to safeguarding concerns and providing expert advice and guidance to colleagues across the charity. You'll also contribute to the continuous development of safeguarding policies, procedures and best practice.

This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced Social Worker who is passionate about safeguarding, enjoys working collaboratively, and is committed to helping create a culture where safeguarding is understood, prioritised and embedded in everything we do.

About the team

You will join SSAFA's Social Care Operations Directorate, reporting to the Principal Safeguarding Officer and working as part of a dedicated team committed to ensuring that serving personnel, veterans and their families receive the support they need. Working closely with colleagues across Social Work Services and other specialist functions, you will play a central role in promoting and embedding safeguarding practices throughout the organisation.

About you

You will bring extensive post-qualification experience, gained within safeguarding, together with a sound understanding of current legislation, guidance and best practice.

You will be confident in managing complex safeguarding concerns, providing professional advice and guidance, and supporting colleagues and volunteers to make informed decisions in challenging situations.

You will have the ability to assess risk, exercise sound professional judgement and work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to achieve positive safeguarding outcomes.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as you will be building effective relationships across SSAFA and with external agencies, delivering training and supporting colleagues at all levels of the organisation.

You will also be highly organised, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage a varied workload while maintaining accurate records.

About SSAFA 

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need. In 2025 our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 53,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us and in any way they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

Further information about the role

For more information and to apply, please click on the Redirect button.

If you have any queries or would like to speak to someone about this role, please contact Heather Hammett for an informal discussion.

If you need any adjustments to support you with the application process, please contact us.

Closing date: Midnight on 31st August 2026. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer life is turned upside down – for them and their family.  Fear, isolation, extreme money worries, not knowing where to turn – this is the reality for many.

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we help children, young people and families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. You could be a part of the team making it happen.

The Role 

We are looking for an experienced Social Worker with Demonstrable post-qualifying Social Work experience to join our London & South East Team supporting children and young people diagnosed with cancer.

We pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality support tailored to the needs of the children and young people and their families. The work we do is rewarding but also complex and demanding. You will be part of a close-knit Young Lives vs Cancer social work team, working with an established NHS multi-disciplinary team and services in the community.

This role is part home, part site-based. Your contractual base will be both Home and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

This role is subject to a Criminal Record Check. In the event of a successful application, a Enhanced Criminal Record Check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

About You

You will be committed to delivering high quality social work support to promote the best outcomes for the children, young people and families we work with. You will need to be resourceful and resilient. You will have a positive attitude and be willing to embrace difference. As part of the wider Young Lives vs Cancer team you will actively engage with the work of the charity and welcome opportunities to get involved.

You will have:

• A recognised Social Worker qualification and current registration with Social Work England/ Scottish Social Services Council/Social Care Wales/Northern Ireland Social Care Council
• Demonstrable post-qualifying Social Work experience working with children, young people and their families/carers in a social care setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment, ideally in an NHS setting.
• Sound knowledge of child and young people development.
• An understanding of the impact of serious illness for children, young people and their families.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

WHAT WILL I GAIN?

 For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

ACCESSIBILITY

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

Previous applicants need not apply