Practice Supervisor- Family Solutions Braintree and Witham

Permanent, Full Time

£48,205.00 to £57,988.00 Per Annum

Location: Silver End

Working Style: Fixed-base worker

Closing Date: 15th July 2026

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. This role requires flexible working arrangements with a combination of Office Based, Community Based and Working from Home.

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 the 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.

Role

This role focuses on ensuring best practice is delivered through the provision of professional supervision and observed practice. The role provides specialist advice and professional consultation for Social Work qualified staff as well as alternatively qualified staff. The role requires a formal Social Worker qualification. A commitment to quality assurance and good knowledge of relevant legislation, including Data Protection Legislation, is essential to this role.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for the provision of effective clinical/professional supervision for Family Workers and other staff within the multi-disciplinary staff team, incorporating research/evidence based approach to ensure high quality and consistent application of practice.
• Responsible for undertaking quality assurance work to ensure the provision of high quality support to young people and their families.
• Responsible for working with staff and partners to ensure effective risk management in line with the thresholds of the Effective Support and Guidance document to ensure that the Family Solutions team understands and follows the SET child protection procedures.
• Responsible for maintaining a current active interest and knowledge in legislation and policy changes, research findings and practice developments from a wide field in order to act as a source of expert advice and consultation for staff with the team.
• Responsible for providing formal, systemic supervision to staff, focusing on their wellbeing and the complex families they are working with.
• Responsible for promoting the active engagement of young people and their families to ensure their involvement in the decision making around intervention plans.
• Work collaboratively with the Team Manager to improve the level of consistent practice within the team in order to achieve high performance standards delivered through good quality services provided to children and families.
• Responsible for representing Family Solutions at relevant county and local meetings to ensure effective multi agency working.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Experience You Will Bring

• A recognised social work qualification i.e. Diploma, degree or Masters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with Social Work England as a registered social worker.
• Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge & Skills Statements and significant experience of social work, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date understanding of all relevant legislation, regulation and guidance.
• Good operational understanding of effective risk management including risk of harm to children and risk of harm to others.
• Commitment to quality assurance, including case audit and to seeking and acting on the feedback from children and families to promote continuous improvement.
• Ability to develop the practice of staff to promote improved outcomes for children and families.
• Ability to deliver high quality training and development sessions to a multi-agency staff group with a view to improving integrated working practices.
• Demonstrable commitment to involvement of children and families in decision making and to shape quality assurance of the service.
• Committed to developing community resources including working with volunteers where relevant.

Key Requirements

• As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) the role may require a DBS check. You will be required to register with the DBS update service; this is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.
• Essential: Mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings, and ability to do so in an emergency.
• Driving licence and car or ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Ethics & Safeguarding

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.

EEO Statement

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. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.