Rewards and benefits

What we offer:  

Have a look at the extensive range of benefits and entitlements you will receive when you become a member of our team – a competitive salary, a generous annual leave entitlement plus paid leave at Christmas, training and development opportunities linked with the Knowledge and Skills Statements, support with preparation for the National Assessment and Accreditation System, a manageable caseload and regular supervision. 

Competitive Service Manager salary
£67,131 to £75,081 per annum basic salary and a travel allowance of £1,548 (payable in monthly instalments). 

Competitive Team Manager salary
£44,496 to £47,292 per annum basic salary with an additional recruitment and retention allowance of £4,779 per annum (payable in monthly instalments) and a travel allowance of £1,548 (payable in monthly instalments).

Competitive social worker salary
£32,802 to £42,651 per annum basic salary with an additional retention allowance of £2,787 per annum (payable in monthly instalments and subject to meeting the requirements of the Social Worker Progression Scheme).   


Additionally, those Social Workers who work in the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, Assessment & Intervention and Family Support & Protection frontline teams receive a retention incentive lump sum of £3,000 after a year in the role (assuming no formal capability and disciplinary warnings).

All other Social Workers involved in the child’s journey in the Looked After Children, Children with Disabilities and Fostering & Adoption teams, and the Leaving Care Service, receive a retention incentive lump sum of £1,500 after a year in the role (assuming no formal capability and disciplinary warnings).

Social worker progression
We value our experienced social workers and provide a number of routes to progress. There is a clear pathway to reach an advanced level in social work where you can receive a recruitment and retention allowance of £2,787 per annum. There are also a number of specialist posts such as consultant social workers (frontline), practice leaders and project co-ordinators which Social Workers can apply for internally when they become available.

Travel allowance
A yearly travel allowance (paid in monthly instalments) equivalent to the annual travel card for zones 1-3, currently £1,548 per annum.

Generous leave
A generous annual leave entitlement of 26 days per annum plus an additional 5 days annual leave for continuous local government long service, and an extra two statutory and two concessionary days, which includes three days’ paid leave at Christmas.

Managed caseloads
You will benefit from a manageable caseload of around 18 cases so that you can focus on providing dedicated support to the families you will be working with in Tower Hamlets and use your professional skills to the fore. We use a workload weighting matrix to ensure that we count all aspects of your work including lead projects, PQ training, specialist interests and training and development.

Good location
Tower Hamlets is at the heart of London’s East End and is one of the best connected boroughs in London. DLR stations are within 2 minutes’ walk from the Town Hall.

Investors in People
The council has already achieved IiP Silver status – this year we are on track for Gold. 

Child care voucher scheme
This scheme helps you make tax and National Insurance savings when you pay for registered or approved child care up to £243.00 per month for basic rate taxpayers and £124.00 per month for higher rate taxpayers.

Funded membership to HCPC
We reimburse all of your HCPC membership fees. 

Eyecare voucher
We offer free ASE vouchers that allow staff access to a range of eyecare services.

Local government pension
A good quality and secure pension scheme, offering stable and attractive benefits for you and your family.

Learning and development
Many learning and development opportunities are available for employees based on individual appraisal through the performance, development and review scheme and supervision.

Effective support and supervision
We have a robust supervision framework which means a minimum of monthly one-to-one supervision in additional to regular group supervision.

Work-life balance
The council seeks to ensure that employees achieve improved work life balance through a range of family-friendly policies.

ASYE programme
Available for newly qualified Social Workers.

Cycle scheme
The cycle scheme encourages staff to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle whilst making substantial savings on the cost of a bike and safety equipment.

Staff forums
Opportunities to participate in many forums including disabled staff forum, black and other ethnic minority forum, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender forum.

Diverse workforce
A workforce that reflects the community. We are one of the UK’s most culturally vibrant and diverse areas. 

Season ticket
Interest-free loan to purchase an annual season ticket over and above the inclusive travel allowance that is repayable over ten months from your salary.

Relocation scheme
In order to enable candidates to relocate to take up a new position, the council will offer up to £8,000 relocation assistance for hard to fill positions. To apply, employees must: 

  • have accepted a permanent position with the council
  • support the council’s travel policies on reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
  • have agreed to repay all or part of the allowance if they leave the council within two years

Leisure
Idea Store Learning is one of many staff benefits to be enjoyed. Take advantage of Tower Hamlets’ fantastic programme of free festivals and events, catch up on reading or watch DVDs with free Idea Store membership or take time out during the lunch hour to enjoy one of our magnificent parks. Discounted gym membership is also available.