Senior Social Worker – Older Adult Mental Health in Chelmsford

Permanent, Full Time £48,205 to £57,988 per annum

Location: Chelmsford, Braintree & Maldon

Working Style: Community-based worker

About the Team

We’re an adult social care team that wants to see citizens of Essex have as much choice and control over the way they live their lives as possible. We think everyone should have the chance to live a fulfilling life with people they love and care about, doing things that matter to them and living in a place they can call home. We’re determined that with the right support, everyone can maintain or achieve some independence and we’re proud to be working to make these ambitions a reality.

The Mid Essex Older Adults Mental Health Team works with adults aged 65 years plus, and their carers, who have been diagnosed with a functional or organic mental illness such as dementia, both in the community and developing discharge pathways from inpatient wards. The team work closely with mental health inpatient wards, advanced Dementia and Frailty Services and Social Care neighbourhood teams, managing the complexities of ongoing support and reablement for people who live with mental health needs.

You will have the chance to support adults from the very start of their journey, to reviewing their goals and ambitions further into their social care journey ensuring that their assessed goals and outcomes continue to promote independence and opportunities. This role offers hybrid working, with an expectation to be office based around 2 to 3 days per week depending on business need for collaborative team working and training.

About the Role

• Provide Expert Guidance: As a highly skilled Social Worker you will foster a supportive environment and model best practice, offering specialist advice, and mentoring both newly qualified and experienced colleagues.
• Assess and Support: You will manage a diverse and complex caseload, undertaking comprehensive assessments and creating person-centred care plans.
• Ensure Compliance: You will support the people we work with to live full and fulfilling lives, within the framework of our statutory Care Act requirements, relevant legislation and organisational standards.
• Manage Caseloads: We look to our Senior Social Workers to provide expert social work practice in complex situations, upholding the highest standards of professional practice.
• Collaborate: The ability to collaborate and build strong relationships across the Council and with our partners helps shape solutions that are high-quality and promote independence.
• Represent Adult Social Care: Confident in chairing multi-agency meetings, you will proactively take the lead to ensure a social care perspective is actively represented.

About You

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration AMHP, BIA or Practice Educator qualified.
• Proactive and passionate Social Worker who has a proven record of working complex cases and supporting other staff members.
• Ability to mentor both newly-qualified and experienced team members and to provide advice and guidance in complex situations.
• Significant Adult Social Care experience with a comprehensive understanding of current legislation, regulations and guidance.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards.
• An in-depth understanding of the financial implications of commissioned care packages.
• The ability to make clear decisions, to highlight and limit potential risks associated with intervention.
• Experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members, carers and other multi-agency professionals.
• A passionate social worker who wants to develop and become part of the management team.

This role involves travelling around Essex, in areas that are often rural and not well served by public transport. Therefore, a driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means such Access to Work - is essential.

Why Join Us?

In June 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our Adult Social Care services as “Good” with a score of 73%. “The local authority had a good structure and processes in place to enable people to be supported successfully, and support people to remain independent and live healthy lives. The workforce was passionate about supporting people to achieve these outcomes and the local authority had good knowledge of their area, the people living there and the demographics.”

Our teams are busy but warm, friendly and supportive. Our fabulous team managers will help you manage your workload and develop your practice. We take your career just as seriously as you do, and we have a continuing professional development offer that’s second to none. We welcome diversity because it makes us grow and we’re determined to become a fully inclusive and an anti‑racist organisation.

What We Offer

• Ongoing opportunities for continuing professional development
• Flexible working options
• Employee wellbeing and counselling
• Lease Car scheme
• Life assurance of three times annual salary
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Volunteering leave
• 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
• Employee Networks – communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC
• Payment of your Social Work England registration fees!

Additional Information

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.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.

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.