Hear Shonna’s story of her journey from a student to a social worker in Children’s Care & Support Services. Since this video was filmed, Shonna has now progressed to the role of Team Manager!
'Coming back truly felt like returning home. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces from my previous team still here, as well as others who had grown into more senior roles’
Feedback highlights
To foster an engaged and motivated workforce, we provide staff with regular opportunities to share feedback through a range of dedicated channels. Some highlights of feedback are included below:
‘I have loved every moment of working in LBBD and cannot rate my line manager highly enough. I have been supported to grow and develop while working here and have also seen the service change so much over the last few years. It is a wonderful place to work, and I will always recommend people come here’
Feedback excerpt from an Exit interview (2026)
‘The service has a committed and child-centred workforce with a collaborative and supportive team culture. While the work is fast-paced and complex there is a shared sense of purpose an increasing focus on learning and improvement. Staff are resilient and motivated, and there is a clear drive to strengthen practice and outcomes for children’
Feedback excerpt from a staff survey (2026)
‘There’s a culture of learning, reflection, and improvement. Staff are constantly sharpening their practice, trying new things, and being encouraged to grow professionally and personally’
Feedback excerpt from a staff survey (2026)
‘LBBD is a place where people work incredibly hard because they genuinely care, where teams rally around each other during challenging moments, and where there is a shared determination to make life safer and more stable for children and families. There is a strong sense of pulling together, creative problem solving and humour that gets everyone through challenging days, and a commitment to going the extra mile. Overall, it feels like a passionate, supportive community that is constantly striving to do the right thing for children, no matter how complex the circumstances may be’
Feedback excerpt from a staff survey (2026)
‘It’s a service full of people who genuinely care, who show up for children and families even when things are tough, and who support each other because we understand how emotionally demanding this job can be. There’s a resilience here, a kind of “we’ll figure it out together” attitude, and a shared belief that what we do makes a difference. It’s not perfect — nowhere is — but the vibe is one of humanity, humour, and connection, with colleagues who will stand beside you, challenge you, laugh with you, and hold you when needed. It’s a place with heart and grit, and I think that combination is what makes LBBD special’
Feedback excerpt from a staff survey (2026)
‘Management and colleagues are consistently supportive. Staff genuinely care about the young people they work with and are committed to making a meaningful difference in their lives’
Feedback excerpt from a staff survey (2026)
Contact
If you have any questions regarding children's social work in Barking & Dagenham, please contact us via email socialcarereruitment@lbbd.gov.uk