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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families in need, coordinate services, and facilitate family meetings for positive outcomes.
- Company: Join a leading social work service with an Outstanding Ofsted rating.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, full-time hours, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree preferred or NVQ level 4; experience with complex family needs is essential.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on collaboration and community impact.
The predicted salary is between 31931 - 36423 £ per year.
Fixed Term, Full Time
£31,931 to £36,423 per annum
Location: Basildon
Closing Date: Thursday 22nd January 2026 at 11.59pm.
Please note we are looking to recruit for 2 positions, both are Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunities for a period of 12 months.
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.
Interview Date: W/C Monday 2nd February 2026
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 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. Family Solutions was established across Essex to work holistically with families with multiple and complex needs to enable them to make significant changes and improvements to their lives. The Family Worker (Link Role) is a key role in the service providing advice and support with regard to their thematic area and coordinating the provision of support from other services.
Accountabilities
- Responsible for determining the direction and actions required in order to progress cases forward on a day-to-day basis; recognising when key decisions regarding risks/concerns need to be referred to the Team Manager or Practice Supervisor.
- Responsible for acting as a source of advice, guidance, and support to colleagues in relation to the thematic role held, in order to support case discussions, mentor and guide colleagues.
- Responsible for undertaking holistic assessments of family needs to help create family intervention plans and identify how outcomes can be achieved that fully reflect the family and young person’s views and aspirations.
- Responsible for facilitating complex family meetings, managing the potentially competing views of families and professionals, in order to find achievable solutions.
- Responsible for undertaking individual and group programmes of work to enable children and families to develop their skills to resolve issues and problems themselves; providing information and empowering families to access other local services.
- Responsible for providing specific practical, personal, and emotional support to families in their homes or other settings as part of an agreed plan in order to achieve agreed and sustainable family outcomes.
- Responsible for actively participating in regular supervision in order to review work and ensure effective interventions for families.
- Responsible for ensuring that the principles of effective practice are fully embedded in service delivery. Working collaboratively with staff and partners to ensure effective risk management in line with the Effective Support and Guidance document and SET child protection procedures.
- Actively engage in annual appraisals where specific individual objectives are defined inline within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Educated to degree level preferred but minimum NVQ level 4 or equivalent by experience in relevant thematic specialism i.e., Domestic Abuse, Substance Misuse, Education, Mental Health, and Parenting. Please note that one post in each team requires the applicant to hold a social work qualification and be HCPC registered.
- Evidence of continuing professional development with good knowledge in relevant professional area and commitment to the principles of evidence-based practice.
- Significant practical experience of working with families with multiple and complex needs.
- Effective communication skills, good problem solving and assessment skills with a demonstrable track record of building and sustaining positive professional relationships with individuals and families with multiple and complex needs.
- Experience of applying a solution focused approach and providing practical advice and support to families to enable them to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes.
- Ability to work in partnership with others to maximise outcomes for families in line with the Family Solutions operating principles.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to use supervision appropriately.
Family Worker (Link Role) - 12 month FTC in Basildon employer: Essex County Council
Contact Detail:
Essex County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Worker (Link Role) - 12 month FTC in Basildon
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research their values and recent achievements, like that Outstanding Ofsted rating. This will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend local events related to family support. This can give you insider info about the role and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about your experiences with families facing complex needs and how you've made a difference. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and keep it clear.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Family Worker (Link Role) - 12 month FTC in Basildon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the Family Worker role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Experience: Don’t just list your qualifications; share specific examples of how you've worked with families facing complex needs. We want to see your problem-solving skills in action!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon, so we can easily see your strengths and how you fit into our team.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets to us directly and helps us keep track of all applications efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of a Family Worker. Brush up on your knowledge about holistic assessments, family intervention plans, and how to facilitate complex family meetings. This will show that you understand the role and are ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work where you've successfully supported families with complex needs. Highlight your problem-solving skills and how you've built positive relationships. This is your chance to demonstrate your practical experience and commitment to evidence-based practice.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare some insightful questions about the team culture, ongoing training opportunities, or how they measure success in family interventions. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
✨Be Yourself
Authenticity goes a long way. Be honest about your experiences and how they’ve shaped your approach to working with families. The interviewers want to see the real you and how you align with their values of collaboration, integrity, and compassion.
