At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team in supporting children and families, ensuring their wellbeing and development.
- Company: Join Essex County Council, a dynamic local authority with a commitment to innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Must be a registered Social Worker with at least 2 years of experience.
The predicted salary is between 57988 - 57988 £ per year.
Permanent, Full Time
£48,205 to £57,988 per annum
Location: Colchester
Working Style: Fixed-base worker
Closing Date: 5th August 2026
Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.
We currently have permanent and Fixed Term/Secondment Opportunities for 12 months.
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 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.
The Children and Families Hub is the single point of access for Children’s Social Care. Its primary purpose is to ensure that children and young people and their families receive early help, advice and support to assist in protecting them from significant harm and promoting their development and wellbeing. The Children and Families Hub does this by identifying the lowest appropriate level of support needed to bring about change, support good parenting and boundaries and promote children’s emotional wellbeing. The Children and Families Hub play a critical role in engaging parents and professionals in interventions that can bring about change in families and we aspire to deliver an outstanding service to children and families in Essex.
The Senior Practitioner role provides leadership in the team, providing both support and mentoring to newly qualified or less experienced staff and deputising for the Team Manager when needed. They will oversee the review of some child in need plans particularly prior to closure and will have responsibility to lead in a practice area. There will be good opportunities for their own professional development and for being part of developing our team and service. There is an ethos of openness to the development of new ideas, particularly to reinforce our relationship-based focus, both with our service users and within the staff group.
The successful candidate will be expected to bring skill and high standards of social work to their own caseload as well as providing modelling, advice and support to colleagues. They will be committed to systemic, relationship-based social work, providing effective, innovative interventions and with the ability to build good partnerships, both with our external partners and within the organisation.
Skills and Knowledge
- A diploma in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent and registration with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker and be post-qualified 2 years, with an in-depth knowledge of complex cases and application of key legislation / guidance.
- The ability to make clear decisions, to highlight and limit potential risks associated with intervention.
- Proven record of supporting staff members with complex decision making, as well as a desire to develop and become part of the Management Team, as well as modelling good practice, being open to change and ready to innovate.
- Evidence of recent practice at an experienced social worker level, supported by comprehensive working knowledge and experience within the field of practice in Children Services and understanding of related legal processes.
- Knowledge and understanding of child development, relating theory and practice.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and capability of practice in accordance.
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.
Senior Practitioner - Children and Families Hub, North Essex in Colchester employer: Working for Essex
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and innovative work culture that prioritises the professional development of its staff. With a commitment to transformational change and a focus on delivering high-quality services, employees benefit from flexible working arrangements and a strong ethos of collaboration and integrity. Joining the Children and Families Hub in Colchester means being part of a team that has achieved outstanding recognition and is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families across Essex.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Practitioner - Children and Families Hub, North Essex in Colchester
✨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 Senior Practitioner - Children and Families Hub, North Essex in Colchester
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.
