How to apply | Assessment | Safeguarding |

How to apply

Please take a look at these video guides if you would like assistance completing an application or setting up an account.

If you have any queries regarding your application or any technical problems with the online form, please email our recruitment help desk.

Online Applications

You will need to register your email address and provide a personal password before beginning an online application. You should then read the Data Protection Statement AND respond to the data protection question at the start of the online application form.
When completing the online application form, please ensure that all mandatory fields are completed, as the form can not be submitted if any of these are incomplete. If you apply online for more than one job, you must submit a separate online application for each.
Please read your online application form completely before submitting it, ensuring that you provide all the information we need. Please check that all information is accurate with no spelling or typographical errors.
When recruiting our new employees we use a job description, a person specification and an application form.

Some of our vacancies are advertised on an "internal only" basis. This means that we will only consider applications from our current employees or agency workers on an active assignment at Southwark Council.

This document explains what we are looking for. It tells you what knowledge, experience and skills you need to do the job. These "criteria" are used to make appointments.
"Essential" criteria are those which you must have to carry out the responsibilities of the job. The person specification will show you which criteria will be used to shortlist candidates for interview.
"Desirable" criteria may also be included. These are extra requirements which may be considered if we receive a large number of applicants who meet our "essential" criteria.

If you want to apply for more than one position, please submit a separate application form for each job.
Please tell us anything that you think is relevant to the job in terms of your knowledge, experience and skills. You need to give enough information for us to judge your suitability for the job.
Please complete the Recruitment Monitoring section of the application form. This information is confidential and it is not available to the recruiting panel. The information you provide is used for monitoring purposes to ensure that we are acting fairly when we employ people.
If you have a disability which prevents you from meeting any of the criteria, tell us about this in your application. Please tell us what we could do to help you meet the criteria. If you have a disability we will offer you an interview as long as you meet the essential criteria for the job.

The Council will disqualify any applicant who directly or indirectly seeks the support of an elected Councillor for any appointment with the Council. This does not prevent a Councillor from providing a reference for you.

If you are successful at interview you will be given an offer of appointment. This offer is subject to:

your acceptance of the terms and conditions contained within the contract of employment
a mutually agreed date of commencement
the receipt of at least two satisfactory references, one of which should usually be from your present or most recent employer
receipt of a satisfactory medical report from the Council's Occupational Health physician of your fitness to undertake the duties of the post
evidence of any required professional qualifications (i.e. social work qualification) and essential requirements, such as a clean driving licence
any necessary police (Disclosure) checks, where appropriate
at the most senior levels (Deputy Chief Officer and above) the appointment must also be cleared with Executive Members of the Council.