At a Glance
- Tasks: Support adults with learning disabilities and autism to achieve their goals and live independently.
- Company: Join an award-winning team dedicated to improving lives in West Essex.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, training opportunities, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Driving licence required; travel around Essex is part of the role.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the community while developing your skills in a collaborative setting.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with 2+ years experience in complex cases and knowledge of The Care Act.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
The Team
This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and experienced Social Worker to join an innovative and award-winning Learning Disability and Autism Team covering West Essex. The team strives to improve outcomes for people with learning disabilities and/or autism through the work we do.
Working with community groups, family and carers you will ensure advocacy for people with learning disability and/or autism. We take a person-centred approach to practice and support adults with achieving their goals and ambitions, while also meeting their social care needs. This is achieved through direct work, multi-disciplinary approaches, collaboration and building local community links. Most notably the team hosted the learning disability festival in June 2025, focusing on bringing visibility to individuals with learning disabilities and highlighting their unique voices and talents.
Joining a LD & Autism team at Essex means you will be working in a supportive and innovative environment enabling you to develop your own ideas to make meaningful changes to the Adult\'s lives. The achievements with the team truly make a difference in the adults lives we work with and take a step towards changing the opportunities and outcomes for adults in our local community.
About the Role
Working to support adults, and their families, who have complex social needs and are more vulnerable as a result of disability, exclusion, or diminished capacity, you\'ll maximise their potential to live independently. You\'ll be a source of specialist advice, managing your own complex caseload as well as supporting colleagues with theirs.
You will assess social care needs using a person centred and strengths-based approach and contribute to the development of care and support plans for adults. The role will require you to manage a caseload of adults with complex needs, including assessment of risk through direct work, within a quality assurance process. A focus of the role will be to ensure vulnerable people are safeguarded in line with ECC\'s statutory obligations.
Your responsibilities will also include:
- Working collaboratively across the Council, with partners and statutory and voluntary agencies, to ensure a joined-up approach.
- Taking part in a range of case conferences, court attendance, meetings and statutory reviews, proactively taking the lead when a social care perspective is required.
- Developing a high level of expertise in particular areas of practice, and leading on those areas
About You
To apply, you should be a qualified social worker with current Social Work England registration and be post-qualified 2 years with an in-depth knowledge of complex cases and The Care Act, along with experience of working with Adults with LD and/or Autism. You will be AMHP, BIA or Practice Educator qualified, or have secured intention to complete these qualifications.
We require a proactive worker who has a proven record of working complex cases and supporting other staff members. A worker who wants to develop and become part of the management Team.
You\'ll bring significant experience of social work, modelling good practice and providing advice and guidance in complex situations. We\'re also looking for your ability to mentor both newly-qualified and experienced team members. As, as a subject matter expert in relevant professional practice, you should have a comprehensive understanding of current legislation, regulations and guidance.
With experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members, carers and other multi-agency professionals, we\'re looking for your ability to develop strong relationships with partner agencies and the local community to provide a supportive framework for vulnerable adults.
You\'ll also bring:
- Evidence of continuing professional development and capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards.
- An in-depth understanding of the financial implications of commissioned care packages.
- The ability to make clear decisions, to highlight and limit potential risks associated with intervention.
This role involves travelling around Essex. A driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means - is essential.
Why Join Us?
With us, you can achieve more - for yourself as well as the vulnerable adults you work to support. We\'re always looking for new ways to deliver even better services, Social Workers play an integral role in our preventative approach to Social Care. We encourage our multi-disciplinary teams to share their ideas and experience. We work together to get things done. Bring your positive, proactive attitude, and we\'ll empower you to make the most of your experience within Essex County Council (ECC) Adult Social Care services.
In June 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our Adult Social Care services as \"Good\" with a score of 73%
\"The local authority had a good structure and processes in place to enable people to be supported successfully, and support people to remain independent and live healthy lives. The workforce was passionate about supporting people to achieve these outcomes and the local authority had good knowledge of their area, the people living there and the demographics.\"
You can read the full report on the CQC website here .
What We Offer
We\'ll support you to be your best…
- Training and development to empower you from our award-winning Essex Social Care Academy.
- With us you can make your career work for you with flexible working options
- With us you can get the support you need with employee wellbeing and counselling
- Lease Car scheme
- Up to £8000 for relocation*
- With us you can have peace of mind with life assurance of three times annual salary
- Payment of professional fees for approved professions
- Local Government Pension Scheme. View Key Facts and FAQ\'s about the LGPS.
- Volunteering leave
- 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
- Employee Networks - communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC
Whatever you want to achieve in your social care career, you can do it here.
*T&Cs Apply.
Apply now.
For more information please contact
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government\'s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) ) on our careers site
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. We\'re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you\'ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to
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.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community
Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and LinkedIn . Further details can be found on our careers page .
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Senior Social Worker - Learning Disability & Autism, Harlow employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and innovative environment for Social Workers in Harlow. With a strong focus on employee development through the Essex Social Care Academy, flexible working options, and a commitment to wellbeing, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable adults while advancing your career. Join a passionate team dedicated to improving community outcomes and enjoy generous benefits including relocation support, a local government pension scheme, and extensive annual leave.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Social Worker - Learning Disability & Autism, 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 Social Worker - Learning Disability & Autism, 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.
