Community Support Worker - South Essex in Chelmsford

Join our team in South Essex and make a meaningful difference in the lives of adults with learning disabilities and autism. In this role, you will be responsible for managing cases, carrying out Care Act Assessments, Support Plans and Reviews – working closely with the adults we support, their families and other agencies, to support individuals in building independence and improving their skills.

ECC Adult Social Care is making a transformational shift from a focus on long‑term care support to a model with four key principles: prevention, early intervention, enablement and safeguarding. This allows people to access information and tools to live independently, while responding positively to growing service demand in a sustainable way within the financial constraints of ECC. Working with Social Workers and Occupational Therapists, you will deliver bespoke intervention work in accordance with the care plan to vulnerable adults. The role may involve managing a caseload, including risk assessment through direct work, within a quality assurance process. A key focus will be to ensure vulnerable people are safeguarded in line with ECC's statutory obligations.

With relevant experience of working with vulnerable adults, or an education to Level 3 (RQF), you will be passionate about engaging with and providing support in the community, working with partners as required.

• Assess social care needs and provide support to vulnerable adults to enable them to live healthily and independently; maintain high standards of professional practice that contribute to continuous improvement across the service and deliver the four key principles.
• Contribute to the development of care and support plans that gain commitment to solutions to meet each individual's needs.
• Work collaboratively with others, including the placement team, to support the individual to commission care and support from appropriate providers; including developing their own employees through Direct Payments.
• Accountable for working within the statutory legal framework, policy and guidance and determining when the threshold for statutory intervention has been reached in line with legislative and organisational standards within the Care Act 2015 (e.g. MCA / DoLs / CHC etc.).
• Responsible for highlighting issues and implementing plans to safeguard a vulnerable adult.
• Build strong, effective relationships with clients, families and carers providing practical advice, support and, where necessary, acting as an advocate.
• Enable vulnerable adults to live healthily and as independently as possible.
• Work collaboratively across the service, with internal and external professional partner agencies to deliver joint objectives and ensure improved outcomes for vulnerable adults.
• Provide information and advice in relation to involvement/accessing third‑party agencies relevant to the needs of the client (e.g. benefits agencies, immigration, and housing).
• Attend meetings, reviews, case conferences and court hearings to provide information, insight and evidence; provide reports where appropriate.

• Experience within a social care setting, an NVQ/BTEC Level 3 or equivalent is desirable.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and knowledge in a relevant professional area.
• Experience of building strong, effective relationships with adults, their families and carers in times of challenge and crisis.
• Experience of undertaking direct, activity‑based work with adults.
• Knowledge of legislative and policy guidance applicable within Social Care settings.
• Proven track record of building working relationships with partners and external agencies.
• A certificate in First Aid and/or knowledge of Sign Language is desirable in this role.