At a Glance
- Tasks: Support social workers in delivering targeted interventions for adopted children and families.
- Company: Essex County Council, dedicated to improving lives in the Eastern region.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and support for unpaid carers.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity with potential for career growth and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of adopted young people and their families.
- Qualifications: Level 3 education or equivalent experience in social care.
The predicted salary is between 33256 - 33256 £ per year.
This is a 12 months fixed term contract.
The Opportunity
Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.
This post will be part of the Adopt East Team employed by Essex County Council. The post will support the work of 3 Regional Adoption Agencies/Alliances across the Eastern region. The post will work across the Eastern Region within the adoption service developing the support offer to adopted young people and their families. This is an exciting opportunity to bring together good practice across the region to ensure that we have a consistent and innovative support offer to adopted young people and their families. Essex will be the employing authority but we would encourage applications from anywhere in the Eastern region.
Support Workers work within the adoption service, working collaboratively with Qualified Social Workers to deliver bespoke, targeted intervention work, in accordance with the adoption support plans, to adopted children and families. This work will normally be time limited, with measurable impact and meet the assessed needs. This is a new opportunity that has arisen as a result of the Eastern Region being successful at gaining funding to develop our support offer to young people. A considerable amount of the intervention will be offered via therapeutic groupwork. This project that is closely connected to the Department of Education and Adoption England provides an exciting opportunity to help shape future services for young people.
Educated to Level 3 or with activity based alternative experience, in a social care setting, you will be passionate about engaging with and providing direct support in the community, building strong working relationships with partners to jointly deliver improved services. The post is for 12 months fixed term with the possibility to extend based upon continued funding being made available. For candidates already employed by one of the Eastern region Local Authorities this role would be open for a secondment opportunity subject to line management agreement.
Accountabilities
- Responsible for supporting social workers to implement adoption support plans, predominately through group based creative provision to adoptive families.
- Responsible for maintaining high standards of professional practice which contribute to continuous improvement across the service.
- Responsible for highlighting issues and implementing plans to safeguard a child.
- Building strong, effective relationships with the service users, providing practical advice and support, where necessary and deemed appropriate; enabling children and families to sustain change and function effectively within the community.
- Work collaboratively across the service, with internal and external professional partner agencies, to ensure improved outcomes for children and families.
- Provide information and advice in relation to involvement/accessing of third party agencies relevant to the needs of the service user (e.g. benefits agencies, immigration and housing).
- Participate in meetings, reviews, case conferences and court hearings to provide information, insight and evidence where relevant to the service area.
- Using reporting mechanisms to report progress to the Department for Education and Adoption England.
The Experience You Will Bring
Essential
- Educated to NVQ/BTEC Level 3 or equivalent experience.
- Experience of building strong, effective relationships with children and families in times of challenge and crisis, ideally with adopted families.
- Experience of undertaking group work with young people, ideally in an adoption setting or within a therapeutic environment.
- Experience of undertaking direct, activity based work with children and families where required.
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of the issues impacting children, young people and families, leading them to require support.
- Knowledge of legislative and policy guidance applicable within Social Care settings.
- Proven track record of working with partners and external agencies.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and in-depth knowledge in relevant professional area.
- Experience of working in an adoption support or youth work setting.
- A certificate in First Aid and/or knowledge of Sign Language is desirable in this role.
Why Essex/Eastern Region?
The role requires the postholder to be mobile throughout a wide operational area including travelling around the Eastern region. However, there are opportunities for work to be undertaken virtually too. Driving licence and car or ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential. Although the role is advertised by Essex County Council the role is intending to work across the Eastern region. Applicants are encouraged from anyone located anywhere in the Eastern region.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. 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.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email sandra.middleton@essex.gov.uk
Support Worker CFS in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Counci
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises the wellbeing of children and families. With flexible working arrangements and a commitment to professional development, employees have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a range of benefits tailored to their needs. Working across the Eastern region, this role not only allows for diverse experiences but also fosters innovation in adoption support services, making it a rewarding place to grow your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Support Worker CFS in Chelmsford
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Essex County Counci.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Essex County Counci!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Essex County Counci, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Essex County Counci or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Support Worker CFS in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Essex County Counci:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Essex County Counci! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Counci
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
