Mental Health Co-ordinator, Kinship, post-order support team in Chelmsford

Permanent, Part Time, 18.5 Hours Per Week

£24,102 to £28,994 Per Annum Pro-Rata

Location: Countywide, based in Chelmsford (County Hall)

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 30th September 2026

The role operates on a countywide basis, with regular office attendance at County Hall, Chelmsford, and other sites as business needs required.

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.

The Kinship post-order support team provides support to children and families with Special Guardianship Orders and Child Arrangement Orders. The focus is on family stability and positive outcomes for children and young people who live in these kinship arrangements. This is a multi-disciplinary county-wide team made up of social workers, support workers, permanency coordinators and mental health coordinators.

The Mental Health Coordinator will provide assessment, therapeutic parenting support and direct therapeutic support for children and young people who are suffering emotional and mental health difficulties. They will support colleagues in taking a trauma informed approach and will facilitate practice development in the team. They will provide workshops and training for kinship carers.

The MHC will provide clinical consultation to workers in the post-order team and in the kinship assessment service.

The successful candidate will have an accredited professional qualification and evidence of excellent skills in consultation, assessment, therapeutic practice and recording. Strong partnership working is essential for this role as it will operate in a multi-agency environment.

Accountabilities:

• Provide a specialist mental health assessment and treatment service for children, young people, their families and carers, using a range of therapeutic techniques.
• Assess children and young people’s suitability for mental health and emotional wellbeing services and take part in their planning and review processes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to offer advice, support and consultation, in their work with children and carers across the county.
• Initiate and support new and innovative ways of working, projects and groups to engage carers, children, young people and their families in partnership with C&F colleagues, other frontline professionals and third sector partners.
• Raise knowledge and awareness of the mental health issues and preventative strategies for kinship families across C&F colleagues.
• Maintain up-to-date records of activity on case files, produce reports and give verbal presentations as required.
• Actively participate in case discussions, professionals’ meetings, team around the child / placement meetings, Strategy Meetings and statutory reviews (as applicable).
• Build strong working relationships across the Council and with members of NHS CAMHS services, other statutory organisations and voluntary agencies.

Skills, Knowledge And Experience:

• A degree level professional qualification in at least one of the following areas: psychology/ psychotherapy, social work, youth and community, mental health nursing or a level four qualification in counselling.
• Evidence of significant continuing professional development and training in therapeutic work with children and families.
• Current membership of relevant professional body / association such as BACP, HCPC, UKCP.
• Significant experience of working directly with children, parents/carers and families in a recognised model of therapeutic intervention in 1:1, dyadic and/or group interventions.
• Ability to have difficult conversations and address complex situations through reflective practice, supervision and consultation.
• Evidence of capacity to work systemically with professionals and family members.
• Understanding or interest/experience working with children in care, those who are care-experienced and those who live in kinship families.
• Experience of building strong partnerships, which are collaborative and influential.
• Knowledge and understanding of risk, safety planning and safeguarding protocols.
• Strong commitment to practising and promoting trauma-informed care.
• Experience of developing and delivering bespoke training and consultancy.
• Evidence of being a catalyst for change, early in young peoples’ lives.

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

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.