Social Worker - Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team, Colchester

Social Worker – Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team

Permanent, Full Time

£36,109 to £48,622 Per Annum

Location: Essex

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 11th March 2025

Interviews will be held in person at County Hall, Chelmsford Wednesday 19th March 2025.

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 2^nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.

Assessment & Intervention / Family Support & protection / Children in Care /Leaving and After Care / Children & Young People with disabilities) Essex County Council understand how important flexibility and wellbeing is for our colleagues working across children\’s Social Care and that we need to think differently. We have therefore developed a nine-day working fortnight for full time frontline Social Workers within Children\’s services.

Please note there are multiple vacancies available within the Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team locations are Colchester, Chelmsford or Harlow.

The Role

As a social worker in this countywide team the role covers all aspects of foster carer recruitment. It primarily involves responding to initial enquiries from prospective foster carers, undertaking initial home visits and undertaking Fostering Assessments through to panel. There are opportunities to deliver pre-approval training and well as creative recruitment activity including face to face information events with the public. At certain times the role may include supporting undertaking Special Guardianship Orders and Kinship assessments. Due to the nature of the role evening and weekend work is required as well as the occasional duty work. The team is therefore flexible to reflect the needs of their service users as well as their team members.

We are fortunate to have a very passionate, driven, creative team consisting of social workers, enquiry workers and an outreach worker. We work closely with our fostering ambassadors and children in care successfully to ensure that we recruit diverse foster families to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children in Essex. If you are passionate about making a difference by being part of our Fostering Recruitment Team then this role is for you.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Children & Families

What you\’ll need to join our Social Work teams

You may be an experienced Social Worker looking to take the next step in your career or you may be a Senior Practitioner open to change and ready to innovate in an environment where you can stretch yourself professionally and make an impact individually.

To play a key part in transforming the lives of children and families, you\’ll be a DIPSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent graduate. You will inspire high standards from Social Workers around you, and shape practice standards within the service, delivering positive outcomes collaboratively. You will be a team player enabling your team to work well together under pressure.

For this particular role you will need to have:

• Excellent assessment and analytical report writing skills for understanding and dealing with complex cases
• To respond to all duty calls and initial home visits in an efficient and professional manner and recorded clearly and in detail.
• To present your applicants to the Fostering Panel with clear recommendation and evidence to support this recommendation.
• Support and participate in Recruitment activities.
• Be involved in the development of a Service area that relates to Recruitment of foster carers or to link with one of the Quadrant Fostering Teams to establish up to date needs and developments relevant to that quadrant.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• A recognised social work qualification i.e. Diploma, degree or Masters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with the Social Work England as a registered social worker.
• Demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards eg Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS) Case recording
• Demonstrate ability in the application of SW knowledge, using emotional intelligence, analytical skills and act with confidence in challenging social and family situations.
• A good working knowledge and ability to use information technology and related systems eg, Word, SW case recording systems
• Required to be mobile throughout a wide 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 ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
• Required to work flexibly as required, including evenings and weekends if necessary.

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.

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

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. As part of our team, we kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, not only during the recruitment process but also throughout your time with us. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

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.

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

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email

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