At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and train kinship foster carers to ensure children's wellbeing.
- Company: Essex County Council, a leading local authority with an outstanding reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and strong support for career development.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team committed to innovation and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Social work qualification and experience in fostering or child welfare.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 36840 £ per year.
Fixed Term, Full Time
£38,487.00 to £51,834.00 Per Annum
Location: Countywide
Working Style: Community-based worker
Closing Date: 28th July 2026
Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 24 Months.
We're looking for dedicated Supervising Social Workers with a passion for Kinship care to join our fostering service across four regions of Essex:
- Mid Essex (Chelmsford)
- North Essex (Colchester)
- West Essex (Harlow)
- South Essex (Basildon)
We are looking for a committed and skilled Social Worker to strengthen the support and training offered to kinship foster carers in your Fostering Quadrant. You will be the lead to support your team and other stakeholders in their understanding of all Kinship issues. You will play a key role in delivering trauma-informed, relational support and shaping high-quality training that reflects the realities of kinship care. If you're passionate about supporting kinship foster families and helping children thrive, we'd love to hear from you.
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. Not only have we been named Outstanding by Ofsted, we are delighted and at the same time humbled to have been crowned Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in the last three years!
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 role of Supervising Social Worker within Fostering:
As a supervising social worker in a busy fostering team, the role will require the support, monitoring and development of local authority foster carers in accordance with the 2011 National Minimum Standards for Fostering and Fostering Service regulations to safeguard the wellbeing of Children in Care. There is an expectation that the post holder will co-lead some training events for foster carers and undertake updated assessments of carers when change of circumstances occur. Good report writing is required.
Some other duties also include:
- Supporting foster carers through regular home visits and telephone contact, including at least one unannounced visit every year.
- Monitor and review the care provided by foster carers to children placed in their care, ensuring that they provide a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for children and young people in their care and in accordance with the requirements of Fostering National Minimum Standards.
- Ensure that foster carer’s annual household reviews are completed within timescales and follow Fostering Panel processes, as required.
- Support foster carers through complaints procedures and child protection procedures, as required.
- Participate in the matching process when children and young people are placed with foster carers, to ensure the best possible match and to identify any gaps in a match and offer support accordingly.
- Ensure that foster carers receive all appropriate documentation regarding each child or young person placed and to ensure that foster carers keep good records and file all confidential documents securely.
- Ensure that foster carers are receiving the statutory support from the child/young person’s social worker and other professionals involved and to address this appropriately, if it is not the case.
- Work with foster carers to encourage and support contact for children and young people in accordance with their care plans.
- Assists the foster carer in ensuring that children and young people are heard in reviews, planning and in pursuing any complaints.
- Required to work flexibly as required, including evenings and weekends if necessary.
Skills and Knowledge:
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework. A recognised social work qualification, degree or master’s 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, specially related to Homelessness. 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.
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.
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.
In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, 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.
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 resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk.
Kinship Supervising Social Worker in Chelmsford employer: Working for Essex
Essex County Council is an outstanding employer, recognised for its commitment to social work excellence and employee development. With a collaborative and compassionate work culture, we offer flexible working arrangements and a range of benefits that support our staff, including those who are unpaid carers. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families across Essex, where your skills will be valued and your professional growth nurtured.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Kinship Supervising Social Worker 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 Working for Essex.
✨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 Working for Essex!
✨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 Working for Essex, 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 Working for Essex 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 Kinship Supervising Social Worker 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 Working for Essex:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Working for Essex! 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 Working for Essex
✨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.
