Social Worker - Children in Care, Mid Essex
Permanent, Full Time
£36,124 to £51,834 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Community‑based worker
Are you ready to be part of an incredible social work team that supports, nurtures, and creates real impact on young lives? We have a permanent opportunity in the Children in Care Team Mid.
Key Attributes
- Strong communicator – able to build relationships and clearly present information.
- Analytical and insightful – confident in assessing situations and identifying risks of significant harm.
- Organised and deadline‑driven – able to manage competing priorities and deliver high‑quality work on time.
- Decisive and responsible – understands safeguarding and takes appropriate action when needed.
- Creative and child‑centred – creates opportunities for direct work with children and advocates for their wishes and feelings.
What Makes This Role Great
- Unwavering Support – experienced managers provide top‑notch supervision and daily ad‑hoc support.
- A Systemic Approach – we tackle challenges beyond individual circumstances through collaboration.
- Strengths and Trauma‑Informed Practice – we empower social workers with relationship‑based, strengths‑based methods.
- Top‑Notch Training – access to the Essex Social Care Academy for continuous development.
What You’ll Do
As part of our Children in Care team, you will work with children and young people up to 18 who need support. Whether with foster carers or residential homes, your goal is to ensure their experience in care is positive.
- Visit children and young people in placement.
- Develop permanency plans, including Special Guardianship Orders and adoption.
- Provide life‑story work to explain the reason for care placement.
- Build an effective professional support network.
- Represent the Local Authority in Family Court, presenting care plans and presenting evidence.
- Support some children in returning to their birth family.
Requirements
- Diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS, or an equivalent qualification.
- Registered with Social Work England.
- Demonstrated capability in practice, following current professional standards such as the Professional Capability Framework and Knowledge & Skills Statement.
- Excellent case recording and confident handling of complex social and family situations.
- Proficiency in Word and social work case recording systems.
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when necessary.
Mobile Requirement
Mobile across a wider operational area, including travel around Essex and beyond. Must have a driving licence and a car or alternative means that meet mobility requirements.
Benefits
Once you’ve secured your role, you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We commit to interview all disabled applicants, veterans, and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role. The council welcomes reasonable adjustments during the application process. We are also committed to promote safeguarding and the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
Application process:
For any questions regarding this role, please contact the recruitment team via email: resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
