At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and advocate for children in care, ensuring their experiences are positive and empowering.
- Company: Essex County Council, dedicated to making a real difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and top-notch training opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a supportive team and make a meaningful impact on young lives every day.
- Qualifications: Degree in social work and registration with Social Work England required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career growth and a focus on wellbeing.
The predicted salary is between 32000 - 42000 £ per year.
Permanent, Full Time £37,185 to £50,081 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Community-based worker
Closing Date: 15th February 2026
Are you ready to be part of an incredible social work team that’s all about support, creativity, and making a real impact on young lives? We currently have a permanent opportunity in the Children in Care Team Mid.
What this role is ideal for:
- A strong communicator - able to build relationships and clearly present information.
- Analytical and insightful - confident in assessing situations and identifying risks of significant harm.
- Organised and deadline-driven - able to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work on time.
- Decisive and responsible - understands safeguarding and takes appropriate action when needed.
- Creative and child-centred - opportunities for creative direct work with children and advocating their wishes and feelings.
What Sets Us Apart:
- Unwavering Support: Our experienced managers are there for you, every step of the way. They prioritise providing top-notch supervision, so you can excel in your role. Plus, our team believes in daily ad-hoc support because we’re in this together.
- A Systemic Approach: At Essex County Council, we approach social work from a systemic perspective. We understand that the challenges our children and young people face go beyond individual circumstances, and we work together to address these complexities.
- Strengths and Trauma-Informed Practice: We utilise a strengths-based, relationship-based, and trauma-informed approach to our practice. We empower our social workers to make a genuine difference.
- Top-Notch Training: The Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) is your gateway to outstanding training and development opportunities. We’re committed to helping you grow in your career.
What You’ll Do:
As part of our Children in Care team, you’ll be working with children and young people up to the age of 18 who need our help. Whether they’re with foster carers or in residential homes, your goal is to ensure their experience in care is a positive one. You’ll visit children and young people in placement, develop permanency plans (including Special Guardianship Orders and adoption), and help them understand the reasons behind being in care through life-story work. And for some, your support could be the key to them returning home to their birth family.
Requirements:
- You’ll need a diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS, or an equivalent qualification.
- You should be registered with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.
- You’ll need to demonstrate your capability in practice, following current professional standards like the Professional Capability Framework (PCF) and Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS).
- You’ll excel in case recording and confidently handle complex social and family situations.
- Proficiency in using tools like Word and social work case recording systems is a must.
- Flexibility is key - you might need to work evenings and weekends when necessary, ensuring that children’s needs are always met.
- The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency.
- Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Join our team and be a part of something truly meaningful. Let’s make a difference together!
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Essex County Council understand how important flexibility and wellbeing is for our colleagues working across children’s Social Care and that we need to think differently. We have therefore developed a nine-day working fortnight for full time frontline Social Workers within Children’s services.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Social Worker - Children in Care, Mid Essex in Chelmsford employer: Connected Local Government
Contact Detail:
Connected Local Government Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Children in Care, Mid Essex in Chelmsford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current social workers or professionals in the field through LinkedIn or local meetups. They can provide insider info about the role and might even refer you directly to hiring managers.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to social work. Think about your experiences and how they align with the job description. We want you to showcase your strong communication skills and analytical mindset!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your creativity! Bring examples of how you've used creative approaches in your past roles, especially when working with children. This will highlight your child-centred focus and ability to advocate for their needs.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our incredible team at Essex County Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Worker - Children in Care, Mid Essex in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for social work shine through! Share why you want to make a difference in the lives of children and how your experiences have shaped this desire.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate that you understand what we're looking for.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your writing clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and ensure your application is easy to read. We want to see your communication skills in action, so make every word count!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our team there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Connected Local Government
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re familiar with the key responsibilities of a Social Worker in Children in Care. Brush up on your knowledge of safeguarding practices, permanency planning, and trauma-informed approaches. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you’re ready to make a real impact.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a strong communicator, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to build relationships. Prepare examples of how you’ve effectively communicated with children, families, or colleagues in the past. Use these stories to highlight your skills in presenting information clearly and empathetically.
✨Be Organised and Ready to Prioritise
The role requires managing competing priorities, so come prepared with examples of how you’ve successfully handled multiple tasks in previous roles. Discuss your time management strategies and how you ensure high-quality work is delivered on time.
✨Emphasise Your Creative Approach
This position values creativity in working with children. Think about how you can advocate for their wishes and feelings through innovative methods. Be ready to share specific examples of creative direct work you’ve done in the past, as this will set you apart from other candidates.
