As part of the Council’s ongoing digital strategy, we are currently investing in our IT infrastructure. What this translates to is up-to-date equipment that will allow you to work flexibly from home or on-site. This working ethos is creating an agile workforce who can fit their work around their lifestyles. Other flexible work options can include annualised hours, compressed hours, flexitime, home working, job-sharing and flexi break scheme.

With a passion for environmentally friendly forms of transport – not forgetting the benefit to your health – we want to help you get from A to B with minimal fuss. That’s why we offer a cycle to work and cycle loan scheme, plus an interest-free season ticket loan. Some roles also attract essential car user status.

Cycle to work scheme:
https://www.bike2workscheme.co.uk/

We offer a generous Annual Leave entitlement, which starts from 27 days and can rise to 36 days dependent on your job grade and the length of continuous service. In additional to annual leave you are entitled to Bank Holidays that fall on your normal working day.

We want to ensure that our staff are taken care of in retirement, which is why Southwark offers membership in a number of pension schemes which all provide security and benefits to members and their loved ones. 
The Southwark Pension Fund is the largest pension fund in London with assets of £1.53 billion, and is part of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

We’re keen for you to reach your full potential, so we’ll support your individual needs with training and development programmes, uniquely tailored to your interests.It’s for this very reason that we’ve been named as one of the top 100 companies in the UK and the best London Council for the past five years for apprenticeships, so whether you need managerial, technical or professional support, we can provide the education opportunities you’d like to experience.

We support the principles of equal pay and offer competitive salaries. You may also receive an annual increment until you reach the maximum point of the grade.

Our jobs are based upon a 36-hour week, and most are open to "job-sharing".

In September 2018 Southwark Council has taken the proactive step to support employees who are parents of babies born prematurely by signing up to the Employer with a Heart charter from charity The Smallest Things.
Working with the Unite, Unison and GMB unions to develop this progressive policy, it means parents of babies born at or before 37 weeks will be entitled to receive an extra week’s Premature Baby Leave and Premature Baby Pay for every week their premature baby spends in hospital before their due date.

Our apprenticeship scheme has been operating successfully for more than ten years. Investing in our future workforce to ensure we have the right people with the right skills who can fully develop their potential, is one of our key priorities. Our apprenticeship programme is highly regarded as one of the key employment pathways to working in Southwark, with tremendous successes for our apprentices securing employment.

We’re committed to supporting your continuing professional development from the outset of your career. As part of our Social Care Teams, newly qualified social workers benefit from a one-year ASYE programme and a dedicated practice development manager, in addition to structured training and learning during the year. All social work staff benefit from a wide variety of training and learning events, as well as coaching sets and other developmental activities, including post-qualifying awards though our sponsorship scheme and specialist training on local priorities and initiatives. You can find out more on the “mylearningsource” portal.

It can be difficult to know where to start when looking for your next job or planning your career. The National Careers Service website offers advice and information, which we hope you’ll find useful in choosing to make an application with us. Click here to find out more.

Need to see a doctor or optician urgently? No problem, because with HSF (a not for profit organisation), you can have a medical cash plan and seek help as soon as you need it, and without waiting for an NHS appointment.

We’re working to make Southwark a cleaner, greener and safer place to live and work. As part of our modernisation programme, most staff are now located at new buildings in Tooley Street, near to London Bridge, and Queens Road in Peckham.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection 2022 was graded as ‘good’ in all areas. The children in our care said we are a “special council and are like a family to them”.

Ofsted said: “Staff enjoy working in Southwark. Their morale is high, and they appreciate the high level of support, the career progression opportunities, the learning and development offer and the ambition that the organisation has for them.”

HSF is a not for profit organisation that provides medical cash plans subsidised by the council which allows you to claim back health, dental. Optical and physiotherapy costs. We also provide free eye tests and support for DSE users up to a maximum of £55.

Our Employee Assistance Programme is a free and confidential service that provides support and guidance with many personal or professional problems that may affect your overall health and wellbeing.
Unlimited access to our 24/7/365 confidential UK based telephone helpline for you and your immediate family members

We’re keen for you to reach your full potential so we support your individual needs with training and development programmes. We offer clear career pathways within adult social care with a proven history of internal progression, and opportunities to move across services and gain a broad range of experience of practice. 

We also have an improved Family Friendly contractual policies; this includes taking the proactive step to support employees who are parents of babies born prematurely by signing up to the Employer with a Heart charter from the charity The Smallest Things. This means parents of babies born at or before 37 weeks will be entitled to receive an extra week’s Premature Baby Leave and Premature baby pay for every week their premature baby spends in hospital before their due date.  Our Family Friendly polices also include our Foster Friendly Policy and a commitment to maternity and paternal leave.