At a Glance
- Tasks: Coordinate supervised family time arrangements and manage logistical planning for children and families.
- Company: Join Essex County Council, a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to child welfare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work culture with a commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Strong organisational skills and experience in logistics or operational activities required.
The predicted salary is between 28621 - 28621 £ per year.
Permanent, Full Time
£25,959 to £28,621 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Fixed-base worker
Closing Date: Sunday 9th 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.
This position is primarily based at County Hall, Chelmsford, with limited opportunities for remote working. Occasional travel may be required to attend Halstead Resource Centre and other service-related events.
Interview Date: W/C 17th August.
Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.
The Opportunity
Children and Families Services is a forward-thinking organisation where professional development, collaboration, integrity, and compassion are at the heart of everything we do. Working alongside our partners, we deliver early help, family support and effective social work interventions that protect children, strengthen families, and create positive futures for young people across Essex.
We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Team Administrator – Supervised Family Time Team, known internally as a Logistics Coordinator to join our Supervised Family Time Team. This pivotal role is responsible for coordinating supervised family time arrangements, ensuring that referrals from Social Workers are translated into safe, timely and effective contact sessions between children and their families. You will play a key role in managing the logistical planning of family time arrangements, identifying suitable venues, arranging transport, allocating Supervised Family Time Workers, and ensuring that all arrangements meet safeguarding requirements and service timescales.
The successful candidate will be confident in managing multiple priorities, solving complex logistical challenges, and working collaboratively with a range of professionals, families, and external providers to achieve the best possible outcomes for children.
Accountabilities
- Coordinate and allocate supervised family time referrals within five working days, ensuring timely service delivery.
- Assess referrals and allocate cases to internal staff, agency workers or external providers based on availability, geographical location, risk, cost, and level of support required.
- Source and book appropriate venues that provide a safe, child-friendly environment while meeting safeguarding requirements.
- Coordinate transport arrangements where required to ensure children and families can access supervised family time sessions.
- Collate, manage, and distribute referral information, performance data and management reports to practitioners and senior leaders.
- Gather, collate, and maintain weekly statistical and performance information, producing accurate reports for managers to support service monitoring and continuous improvement.
- Ensure relevant risk assessments and safeguarding information are shared with appropriate venues and supervising staff.
- Act as a key point of contact for Social Workers, supporting understanding of referral processes and identifying practical solutions to logistical challenges.
- Monitor expenditure and provide budget information and trend analysis to support effective financial management and value for money.
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with Social Workers, Family Care Workers, Supervised Family Time Workers, schools, families, venues, and external agencies.
- Gather and analyse feedback from children, families, and professional stakeholders to support service improvement and development.
The Experience You Will Bring
Essential
- Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) or equivalent qualification, or able to demonstrate relevant equivalent experience.
- Experience of coordinating logistics, scheduling, or operational activities, with strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with professionals, children and families and deliver a professional, customer-focused service.
- Understanding of supervised family time services and knowledge of administrative processes, resource allocation, and financial procedures to support effective service delivery.
Desirable
- Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and an understanding of data protection requirements.
- Experience of building effective working relationships, influencing stakeholders and negotiating positive outcomes.
- Knowledge of Children's Social Care services, operational processes, and the wider support network available to children and families.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and good geographical knowledge of Essex.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events, and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community.
Team Administrator – Supervised Family Time Team in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Counci
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer for Adults Social Workers, offering a community-focused work environment in the diverse areas of Colchester and Tendring. With a commitment to employee wellbeing, ongoing professional development, and flexible working options, we empower our staff to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive culture that values collaboration and innovation. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to helping individuals achieve independence and live fulfilling lives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Administrator – Supervised Family Time Team 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 Team Administrator – Supervised Family Time Team 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.
