At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children and families through direct interventions and assessments.
- Company: Essex County Council, a leading local authority with an Outstanding Ofsted rating.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, professional development, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team committed to innovation and career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with relevant experience and a passion for helping others.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 36840 £ per year.
Fixed Term, Full Time
48,205.00 to 57,988.00 Per Annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Community-based worker
Closing Date: 9th July 2026
Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months. If you're a qualified Social Worker with a passion for supporting children and families but don't yet feel ready to step into a Senior Practitioner position, we encourage you to apply.
We recognise that talented social workers develop at different rates, and we're committed to supporting career progression. Where applicants demonstrate the right values, skills and potential, we may consider them for alternative opportunities within our Family Centre service, providing valuable experience and development to help prepare them for future Senior Practitioner roles.
The Family Centres provide interventions to bring about positive change within families, help adults provide positive parenting, and increase the resilience of children so that they can stay with their families where it's safe to do so. The Family Centres provide support to social workers in the court arena to strengthen the child and family assessment and where required complete court directed parenting assessments. Family Centres will also deliver a variety of group work sessions and bespoke direct work to vulnerable children and families.
The post holder is responsible for bringing to bear the highest possible standards of practice ability and skills to work in line with policies and procedures. This will include investigation, assessment and purposeful intervention, with the primary role within Children and Families being to achieve positive change within families wherever possible, with the aim of enabling children to remain within their home.
This will be achieved through implementation of the Child Protection, Child in Need plan and achieving permanency through care planning for Children in Care.
The Opportunity: This is an excellent opportunity for Social Worker/Senior Practitioner to gain experience in the family centre environment.
- Individualised, complex interventions including PLO and Court Assessments, ParentAssess/AIM/SORA, Direct work with children/adults and complete family systems and Group Co-Facilitation with Children.
Accountabilities:
- Responsible for complex cases, seeking management support and accessing supervision as required.
- Responsible for providing professional guidance to colleagues and support and feedback to the team manager.
- To maintain an up to date record of activity on case files, produce reports, attend court and give verbal presentations as required.
- To participate actively in case discussions, legal case discussions, Child Protection conferences, Statutory Reviews, etc.
- Represent ECC in court proceedings.
- Participate in quality assurance processes, for example undertaking case file audits and diagnostic exercises.
- Critically appraise the quality of own/others practice and challenge this within identified forums.
- To maintain a current and active interest and knowledge in legislation and policy changes, research findings and practice developments, from a wide field, as are relevant to the development of interventions and support to service users.
- Responsible for own professional development including training and other development opportunities.
- To act as a source of expert advice and consultation for staff within Schools, Children and Families, on professional issues relating to Child Protection situations (particularly Section 47 investigations) and assessments of risk to the child or young person affected.
- Ensure child protection plans are implemented and reviewed.
- Participating in and/or chairing team meetings and deputising for the Team Manager in the day-to-day running and supervision of the team when necessary.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade that may, from time to time, be required.
- To undertake occasional evening work and be available for very occasional weekend activities as required by the Schools, Children and Families Directorate.
The 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 and Skills Statements.
- Significant experience of social work, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date understanding of all relevant legislation, regulation and guidance.
- Experience of mentoring both Social Work students and newly qualified and experienced Social Work staff, being a subject matter expert in professional social work practice.
- Experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members and/or carers and other multi-agency professionals.
- Developing strong relationships with partners, other agencies and the local community to achieve joint objectives and offer a supportive framework for children, young people and families.
- In depth understanding of delivery of value for money interventions balanced against need.
- Proven track record of clear decision making in order to highlight and limit the potential risks associated with intervention.
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, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex.
With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
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. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.
The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
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.
Senior Practitioner - Woodlands Family Centre, West Essex, Harlow employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people. With flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development, staff are encouraged to grow within their roles, all while contributing to a vital service in the heart of Chelmsford.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Practitioner - Woodlands Family Centre, West Essex, Harlow
✨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 Council.
✨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 Council!
✨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 Council, 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 Council 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 Senior Practitioner - Woodlands Family Centre, West Essex, Harlow
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 Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Essex County Council! 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 Council
✨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.
