At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families and children by providing guidance and ensuring safety in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Essex County Council, a leading local authority committed to positive change.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of families while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Good education, communication skills, and knowledge of safeguarding legislation.
The predicted salary is between 33256 - 33256 £ per year.
Fixed Term, Full Time £26,284 to £33,256 per annum
Location: Colchester
Working Style: Fixed-base worker
Closing Date: 31st May 2026
Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months. The role ensures the Single Point of Entry is accessible by professionals, members of the public and families. Advisers will work with senior staff to deliver a prompt and appropriate response to concerns and risks, ensuring safe and efficient handling of all contacts.
Accountabilities- Management team of the Children and Families Hub.
- Understand the needs of customers and deliver the best possible outcomes through exemplar behaviour in accordance with ECC’s Values and Core Organisational Behaviours.
- Work flexibly and collaboratively across structural boundaries in support of key outcomes.
- Contribute to development of organisational capability by taking ownership of your own training and development and responding to performance feedback.
- Think creatively, challenge norms, and constructively challenge others (including senior staff) to ensure continuous improvement and commercial astuteness.
- Identify and mitigate areas of risk including Health and Safety and Business Continuity.
- Work as part of project or process teams under the new operating model, ensuring excellent cross‑functional output.
- Provide accurate information, advice, and guidance via telephone or email in line with the levels of need identified within the Effective Support for Children and Families in Essex guidance.
- Work closely with other team members to identify risk and safeguard children by prioritising referrals when necessary.
- Record information accurately and enter it onto the appropriate system, maintaining safe and lawful recording in accordance with Data Protection legislation and ECC policy.
- Gather relevant information to identify the appropriate level of need for families and complete records to ensure consideration for further referral within the Children and Families Hub.
- Act as a link adviser for a thematic or geographical area, ensuring a good knowledge of local services available for the Hub and including them in the Directory of Services.
- Allow for a flexible approach to workflow and demand, as duties may be changed or varied at the discretion of the Hub management team.
The role is based in Essex House, Colchester; some travelling may be required for training, representing the team at meetings and liaising with both internal and external partners.
Experience You Will BringEssential- Knowledge and understanding of current national and local safeguarding legislation and procedures including the Effective Support for Children and Families in Essex guidance, the Children’s Act and Working Together Guidance.
- Good general level of education, including English at GCSE grade A‑C, or demonstrably equivalent abilities.
- Experience of communicating by telephone and electronically recording information promptly and in adherence with data protection legislation.
- Understanding of high‑quality customer care and information provision and an appreciation of potential barriers and challenges for hard‑to‑reach groups.
- High level of inter‑personal, negotiation and communication skills, engaging at appropriate levels with a variety of audiences.
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, it is committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost.
Legal and Equality: Essex County Council is a Disability Confident Leader and commits to interview all disabled applicants, veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role. Reasonable adjustments can be made during the process as required. If the role requires a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service to keep your certificate current.
Contact: For queries on this role, email ami.fosker@essex.gov.uk.
Children and Families Advisor – C&F Hub in Essex employer: Essex County Counci
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment for Children and Families Advisors in Colchester. With a strong commitment to employee development, the council provides numerous training opportunities and encourages a culture of collaboration and innovation, ensuring that staff can make a meaningful impact on the lives of families in the community. Additionally, as a Disability Confident Leader, Essex County Council prioritises inclusivity and offers reasonable adjustments to support all employees.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Children and Families Advisor – C&F Hub in Essex
✨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 Children and Families Advisor – C&F Hub in Essex
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.
