Specialist Children and Family Worker - 12 month FTC, Colchester

Fixed Term, Full Time

£31,931 to £36,423 per annum

Location: Colchester

Closing Date: Sunday 15th June 2025 at 11.59pm

Please note this role is being offered as a Secondment or Fixed Term Contract for 12 months.

As a highly autonomous community base worker you will be working in family homes and community settings with the option to complete administrative work at home or in our office conveniently located in the centre of Colchester. You will be expected to be in the office for some meetings, to cover duty up to 4 times a month and to collaborate with other workers at other times. When you are in the office parking is available, alongside some parking outside the office.

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us. Not only have we been named Outstanding by Ofsted, we are delighted and at the same time humbled to have been crowned Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in the last three years!

Why work with us?

• Use your skills to make a difference to the lives of children and families who experience difficulties and inequalities.
• Work for a high performing team with great team morale and friendly, helpful, and supportive colleagues.
• Access high quality training and development to help develop your career within the child and family sector.
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• 37 hour working week. Monday to Friday.
• Local Authority Pension Scheme.
• Continuous Service - Joining us from another local authority? Then you could benefit from bringing your time served and benefits with you.

The role - overview:

The work of a Specialist Children and Family Worker is varied and rewarding, supporting children and families with many different types of complex need.

Key aspects of the work include:

• Working closely with families to build strong relationships with all family members.
• Promoting positive change with families.
• Providing both practical and specialist advice as well as acting as a lead coordinator for other support services.
• Managing your own caseload.
• Managing safeguarding risks to children.
• Taking the lead on an area of professional practice (such as mental health) for the team through supporting team members, and liaising with professionals outside of Family Solutions.

You will be expected to operate flexibly to meet the needs of the families with some work taking place out of normal office hours. You will work across North Essex covering Colchester.

About you:

• Significant practical experience of working with children and families with multiple and complex needs.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience in relevant area e.g., Domestic Abuse, Substance Misuse, Education, Mental Health, Parenting etc.
• Effective communication skills with a range of children, families, and professionals.
• Ability to keep records on our computer-based system, complete assessments and other key documents in a way which is accessible to children and families, yet professional.
• You will be mobile throughout North Essex, occasionally travelling around the County of Essex and beyond. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.