Child and Family Support Worker – Supervised Family Time Team in Chelmsford

Permanent, Full Time £26,284 to £33,256 Per Annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Fixed-base worker

Closing Date: Thursday 6th August 2026 at 11.59pm

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

The majority of work is delivered within Family Centres and community settings in the Chelmsford and Halstead areas. However, flexibility is required, as occasional travel outside of these localities may be necessary to meet the needs of the service and support children and families. This may include transporting children and young people to attend supervised family time sessions.

Interview Date: W/C 17th August.

The role of a Child and Family Support Worker within the Supervised Family Time Team is vital in helping children maintain safe, meaningful, and positive relationships with their families. Working with children in care and their families, you will facilitate and supervise family time sessions, ensuring that they take place in a safe, supportive, and child-focused environment. You will work closely with Social Workers and other professionals to deliver tailored support that meets the individual needs of children and families. Through observation, engagement, and direct support, you will contribute valuable information that informs assessments, care planning, and decision-making, helping to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

The role involves a range of responsibilities, including:

• Providing practical assistance and facilitating play-based activities.
• Offering emotional support and promoting positive family interactions.
• Ensuring that children's welfare remains at the centre of all interventions.
• Supporting families to build and maintain healthy relationships.

Working collaboratively across Children's Services, including family support, fostering and disability services, you will contribute to a coordinated approach that promotes the wellbeing, development and safety of children and young people. Given the complexity and emotionally demanding nature of the work, the successful candidate will demonstrate resilience, compassion, professionalism, and a strong commitment to safeguarding and improving outcomes for children and families.

Accountabilities:

• Support Social Work Teams to organise, coordinate, and facilitate supervised family time arrangements for children, young people, and their families.
• Build positive, professional, and effective relationships with children, young people and families, promoting strengths-based practice and supporting positive family interactions.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism at all times, contributing to confidence in Children's Social Care services.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children by identifying risks, raising concerns appropriately and contributing to the implementation of safeguarding plans.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external partner agencies, including Social Workers, Schools, Health Services, Mental Health Professionals and Guardians, to gather and share relevant information that informs assessments, planning and decision-making.
• Provide information, guidance and practical support to children and families, helping them access appropriate services and resources.
• Act as an advocate where required to ensure their needs are appropriately represented.
• Attend and contribute to reviews, case conferences, planning meetings, and court proceedings, as appropriate, providing observations and professional insight to support understanding of the child's needs and progress.
• Maintain timely, accurate and objective case records and reports in accordance with Children and Families policies, procedures, and recording requirements, including the use of Mosaic.
• Observe and assess family interactions during supervised family time sessions, identifying strengths, areas of concern and opportunities to improve outcomes for children and families.
• Deliver planned interventions and support in line with agreed care plans and guidance from the allocated Social Worker, ensuring interventions are outcome-focused, time-limited where appropriate and demonstrate measurable impact.
• Promote children's emotional wellbeing, development and safety through direct engagement, play-based activities and supportive interventions tailored to individual needs.

The Experience You Will Bring:

Essential:

• Educated to RQF Level 3 (A Level, NVQ, BTEC) or equivalent qualification, or able to demonstrate relevant equivalent experience.
• Experience of building and maintaining positive relationships with children, young people, and families, particularly during periods of challenge, vulnerability, or crisis.
• Good understanding of child development, attachment and the factors that can impact children, young people, and families, with the ability to engage children through age-appropriate and play-based activities.
• Strong communication, observational and recording skills, with the ability to work effectively with families and professional partners while maintaining a commitment to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and 2004, safeguarding legislation and guidance relevant to Children's Social Care practice.
• Experience of working within Children's Social Care, family support, education, health, or a related children's service, including effective partnership working with multi-agency professionals.
• Experience of maintaining accurate records using electronic case management systems and producing clear, professional documentation.
• Evidence of continuing professional development, with additional qualifications or skills such as First Aid, British Sign Language (BSL), or other relevant training being advantageous.

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.