Senior Practitioner - Children in Care, West Essex in Chelmsford

Senior Practitioner – Children in Care, West Essex

Permanent, Full Time
£46,574 to £56,027 per annum
Location: Harlow
Working Style: Community-based worker
Closing Date: 15th October 2025

Essex County Council understands how important flexibility and wellbeing is for our colleagues working across children’s Social Care and has therefore developed a nine‑day working fortnight for full‑time frontline social workers within children’s services. If you would like more information on this, please follow this link.

We are a friendly, supportive, and hard‑working team that places children at the centre of what we do. We have created an open, reflective and learning culture where social workers feel enabled and supported to raise issues, consider different perspectives, challenge authority, and try out different approaches in a safe and non‑blaming environment. Good quality reflective supervision is provided to all social workers and senior practitioners.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership within the team and its practice area.
• Support and mentor newly qualified or less experienced staff.
• Facilitate reflective group supervision and oversee the team’s duty service.
• Deputise for the Team Manager when required.
• Lead and develop our Children in Care (CIC) service, working with children and young people up to 18 years old who are in care.
• Engage in professional development and contribute to the development of the team and service.

About Children in Care

The CIC teams work with children and young people up to the age of 18 who are in care. They ensure the children’s experience is positive, prepare them for transition out of care, support permanency plans including Special Guardianship and adoption, conduct life‑story work, and help children return home when appropriate.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• A recognised social work qualification (Diploma, degree or master’s in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent) and current registration with Social Work England.
• Evidence of continuing professional development aligned to relevant competency frameworks or knowledge and skills statements.
• Significant experience of social work with a comprehensive and up‑to‑date understanding of relevant legislation, regulation and guidance.
• Experience of mentoring social work students and staff, and being a subject‑matter expert in professional practice.
• Experience chairing multidisciplinary meetings involving clients, family members and carers.
• Ability to build strong relationships with partners, agencies and the local community to achieve joint objectives.
• Deep understanding of delivering value‑for‑money interventions balanced against need.
• A proven track record of clear decision‑making to reduce intervention risks.

To read more about our business area, please visit the Children & Families page. Watch the “No Magic” Children & Families video to learn more.

Benefits and Working Conditions

The role requires mobility across Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings. A driving licence and access to a vehicle or alternative means of transportation is essential. The role may involve a DBS check and registration with the DBS update service. At Essex County Council, you will enjoy flexible working arrangements, support for unpaid carers, and a range of employee benefits.

Equal Opportunities

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and a Housing Confident Employer. We commit to interview all disabled applicants who apply under our Job Interview Scheme (provided they meet the minimum requirements). We also interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements for the role. If you require reasonable adjustments or assistance during the recruitment process, please let our recruiters know.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All employees and volunteers must share this commitment.

If you have queries about this role or would like more information, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk.