About Social Work England

Social Work England is the dedicated regulatory body for social workers in England, established to uphold professional standards, promote public confidence in the profession, and ensure that social workers meet and maintain the highest levels of competence and ethical practice. With a growing community of over 53,000 followers and a nationwide presence, Social Work England plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of social work across the country. The organisation works collaboratively with employers, education providers, people with lived experience, and social workers themselves to drive continuous improvement and meaningful change within the profession.

The Role: Regional Engagement Lead – London

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated registered social worker to join our team as a Regional Engagement Lead based in London. This is a leadership-level position that requires a strategic thinker with exceptional interpersonal skills and a deep understanding of the social work landscape in England. As a Regional Engagement Lead, you will serve as the vital bridge between Social Work England and the diverse communities, professionals, and organisations operating within the London region. Your work will directly influence how our standards are understood, adopted, and embedded across one of the most complex and diverse social work environments in the country.

This is not a traditional desk-based regulatory role. It is a dynamic, outward-facing position that demands regular travel across London, face-to-face engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, and the ability to translate high-level policy and strategy into practical, actionable guidance that resonates with frontline social workers, employers, educators, and the communities they serve.

Key Responsibilities

Stakeholder Relationship Management: Lead on establishing, developing, and maintaining strong, productive relationships with key stakeholders across the London region, including local authority social work departments, NHS trusts, independent and voluntary sector providers, higher education institutions, and professional bodies. Act as the primary point of contact for all regional engagement activities, ensuring that the role of Social Work England as the regulator is clearly communicated, widely understood, and consistently respected.
Strategic Policy Translation: Consolidate, interpret, and translate the direction and steer from Social Work England's policy, strategy, and communications teams into regionally appropriate engagement plans. Assess the unique challenges and opportunities within the London social work landscape and determine the most effective approaches to meet the organisation's strategic aims through targeted regional engagement activities.
Lived Experience Engagement: Proactively engage with people with lived experience of social work, including service users, carers, and community representatives, to raise awareness of the regulator and our professional standards. Ensure that their views, perspectives, and experiences are incorporated proportionately and meaningfully into all aspects of our work, driving forward genuine improvement and ensuring that the voice of those who use social work services remains central to regulatory decision-making.
Standards Implementation and Compliance: Work closely with employers, education and training providers, and individual social workers across London to promote the consistent implementation and embedding of Social Work England's professional standards. Identify areas of good practice as well as areas requiring improvement, and develop tailored interventions, workshops, and guidance materials to support compliance and professional development.
Regional Intelligence and Reporting: Gather, analyse, and report on regional intelligence regarding social workforce trends, challenges, and emerging issues within London. Provide regular, evidence-based reports to senior leadership and relevant internal teams, ensuring that the organisation's national strategies are informed by accurate, up-to-date regional insights.
Event Leadership and Facilitation: Plan, organise, and facilitate regional events, forums, roundtable discussions, and engagement sessions that bring together diverse stakeholders to discuss key issues, share best practices, and co-produce solutions to challenges facing the social work profession in London.
Employer Engagement Programme Support: Support and contribute to Social Work England's employer engagement programmes, working directly with organisations that employ social workers to ensure they understand their regulatory obligations and are equipped to support their workforce in meeting professional standards.
Education and Training Provider Collaboration: Build and maintain collaborative relationships with universities and training providers delivering social work education and continuing professional development (CPD) programmes across London. Ensure that pre-qualification and post-qualification training aligns with regulatory expectations and prepares social workers for effective, ethical practice.
Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with colleagues across Social Work England, including the registration, fitness to practise, policy, communications, and education teams, to ensure a joined-up, coherent approach to regional engagement that maximises impact and avoids duplication of effort.

About You: Candidate Requirements

The ideal candidate will be a registered social worker with Social Work England (or eligible for registration) and will bring substantial post-qualification experience to this role. You will have a demonstrable track record of working strategically with multiple stakeholders, ideally within a regulatory, commissioning, or professional development context.

Essential Criteria

Registered social worker with a recognised social work qualification (BA, MA, or equivalent) and current registration with Social Work England.
Significant post-qualified social work experience, including experience at a senior or leadership level within children's services, adult social care, health, education, or the voluntary and community sector.
Proven experience of building and managing complex stakeholder relationships across multiple organisations and sectors.
Strong understanding of the social work regulatory landscape in England, including familiarity with professional standards, CPD frameworks, and fitness to practise processes.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
Experience of translating strategic objectives into practical, deliverable plans with measurable outcomes.
Strong analytical and report-writing skills, with the ability to synthesise qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights.
Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the London region and, on occasion, nationally.
Proficiency in using Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint) and experience with CRM or stakeholder management databases.

Desirable Criteria

Experience working within or alongside a regulatory body, professional standards organisation, or government agency.
Knowledge of the London social work market, including workforce challenges, demographic trends, and service delivery models.
Experience of event management, public speaking, or facilitating participatory workshops and engagement sessions.
Understanding of co-production methodologies and experience involving people with lived experience in organisational decision-making.
Postgraduate qualification in social work, public administration, leadership, or a related discipline.

Work Environment and Culture

Social Work England fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and purpose-driven working culture. As a Regional Engagement Lead, you will be part of a passionate team of professionals who are committed to improving the lives of children, families, and adults through high-quality social work practice. The organisation values diversity, encourages innovation, and supports continuous professional growth. You will have the autonomy to shape engagement activities within your region while benefiting from the support and expertise of a dedicated national team. The role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with a combination of home-based working, travel across London, and periodic attendance at meetings and events at Social Work England offices.

Benefits and Compensation

This is a leadership-level position within a nationally recognised professional body. Social Work England offers a competitive salary commensurate with the seniority and responsibilities of the role, along with a comprehensive benefits package. These include access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave entitlement, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, employee assistance programmes, and access to a range of learning and development opportunities. You will also have the opportunity to contribute directly to the advancement of the social work profession across England, making a tangible difference to the lives of social workers and the people they support.

Career Growth Opportunities

This role provides an excellent platform for career progression within Social Work England and the wider social work sector. The Regional Engagement Lead role offers exposure to senior leadership, national policy development, and strategic planning processes. Successful candidates may have the opportunity to progress into senior management positions, lead national programmes of work, or take on expanded regional or cross-regional responsibilities. Social Work England is committed to investing in its employees and supporting their professional development through mentoring, coaching, and access to relevant training and qualifications.

How to Apply and Hiring Process

To apply for this position, please visit the Social Work England careers page at https://ow.ly/84KJ50VxvmX to access the full job description, person specification, and application form. Applications must be submitted online through the Social Work England recruitment portal. The closing date for applications is 22 April 2025. Early applications are encouraged, as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a sufficient number of suitable applications be received.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in a two-stage selection process, comprising an initial virtual screening interview followed by a formal panel interview, which may include a presentation exercise. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including proof of registration with Social Work England, right to work verification, and enhanced DBS clearance.

Social Work England is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, particularly those from underrepresented groups within the social work profession.