At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and advocate for children in care, ensuring their experiences are positive and fulfilling.
- Company: Join Essex County Council, a leader in social work with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel across Essex, offering a chance to impact children's futures.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in social work and registration with Social Work England required.
Permanent, Full Time
£36,124 to £51,834 per annum
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Working Style: Community-based worker
Are you ready to be part of an incredible social work team that’s all about support, creativity, and making a real impact on young lives? We currently have a permanent opportunity in the Children in Care Team Mid.
Ideal Candidate
- Strong communicator – able to build relationships and clearly present information.
- Analytical and insightful – confident in assessing situations and identifying risks of significant harm.
- Organised and deadline-driven – able to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work on time.
- Decisive and responsible – understands safeguarding and takes appropriate action when needed.
- Creative and child-centred – opportunities for creative direct work with children and advocating their wishes and feelings.
What You’ll Do
As part of our Children in Care team, you’ll be working with children and young people up to the age of 18 who need our help. Whether they’re with foster carers or in residential homes, your goal is to ensure their experience in care is a positive one. You’ll visit children and young people in placement, develop permanency plans (including Special Guardianship Orders and adoption), and help them understand the reasons behind being in care through life‑story work. You will build an effective professional support network for the children and young people. You will represent the Local Authority in Family Court and present our care plans for the children and young people, gaining court report writing skills and presentation of evidence. And for some, your support could be the key to them returning home to their birth family.
Requirements
- Diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS, or an equivalent qualification.
- Registered with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.
- Demonstrated capability in practice, following current professional standards such as the Professional Capability Framework and Knowledge & Skills Statement.
- Capable of case recording and handling complex social and family situations.
- Proficiency in using tools like Word and social work case recording systems.
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when necessary.
- Mobile throughout a wider operational area – driving licence and car or other means to meet mobility requirements.
Additional Information
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), if your role requires a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for maintaining it.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and commits to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under the Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements. We also commit to interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role. We support unpaid carers through flexible working arrangements. Employees are required to adhere to our code of conduct and the Nolan principles.
Social Worker – Children in Care, Mid Essex in Chelmsford employer: Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and creative work environment for Social Workers in the Children in Care team. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development and training, ensuring that our staff can make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and young people in care. Located in Chelmsford, Essex, our community-based approach allows for flexible working arrangements and a focus on work-life balance, making it an ideal place for passionate individuals dedicated to safeguarding and advocating for vulnerable children.
Contact Details:
Kirklees Metropolitan Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker – Children in Care, Mid Essex in Chelmsford
✨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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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 Social Worker – Children in Care, Mid Essex in Chelmsford
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 Kirklees Metropolitan Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Kirklees Metropolitan 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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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.
