Outreach worker – Fostering

Working for Essex; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

Essex County Council is seeking an Outreach worker (Fostering) on a part-time basis to support stability in children’s care arrangements and recruitment of foster carers. The role requires flexibility, with some weekend work and outside‑office hours coverage.

The postholder will work with foster carers, supported lodgings carers, and statutory partners to promote better outcomes and safeguard children. A driving licence and mobility are required for countywide duties.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children and families.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to manage own workload and time effectively.
• Awareness of trauma impact on children's behaviour.
• Ability to work in partnership with social work colleagues and other professionals.

Responsibilities

• Direct work with children and young people as planned by supervising social workers.
• Direct work with the sons and daughters of foster carers.
• Attend meetings relevant to the child as directed by the fostering manager.
• Participate in observation and assessment of young people where appropriate.
• Build relationships with the child through group or one-to-one work as needed.

Skills

Experience with children and families

Excellent interpersonal communication

Build strong working relationships

Time management / workload planning

Collaborative partner work with social

Education

Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) or equivalent by experience

Job description

Outreach worker - Fostering

Permanent,Part Time

£26,284 to £33,256 per annum (full time equivalent)

Location:Chelmsford

Closing Date: 29th October 2026

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

This is a part-time opportunity working 29.6 hours per week with a pro rata salary of £21,027 to £26,604 per annum.

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 Outreach worker (fostering) will support the stability of children’s care arrangements, to prevent children moving foster homes in an unplanned way and maximise the potential for children to thrive and meet their potential in care.

The postholder will work directly with, foster carers and supported lodgings carers to provide practical support and guidance. The postholder will work with collaboratively with others to promote better outcomes for children and support the recruitment of foster carers.

The role requires an awareness of the impact of trauma on children’s behaviour. The role also requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with both children and adults.

This role will require working flexible hours to support planned work outside of usual office hours and will require some weekend work.

Accountabilities

Direct work with children

• Undertake direct work with children and young people as planned by supervising social workers, mental health workers or others in the child’s network.
• Undertake direct work with the sons and daughters of foster carers.
• Attend other meetings relevant to the child as directed by the fostering manager.
• Participate when appropriate in the observation and assessment of young people.
• Ensure accurate records of all conversations with children and carers are kept and appropriately uploaded to the system and that relevant information is shared with the right people and recorded appropriately.
• Work collaboratively with statutory and voluntary partners to ensure the safety and best outcomes for children and their families.
• Build relationships with the child through group and / or one to one work where targeted work has been assessed as appropriate.

Direct work with carers

• Participate in the training and support of carers, which may include providing parenting advice, organising carer support groups, and organising local activities for children, carers, and their birth children.
• Provide practical support to carers in their tasks of caring for children and young people, as agreed by the carer’s supervising social worker the outreach worker’s supervisor or the fostering team manager.

Supporting the team and wider fostering service

• Attend and contribute to staff meetings.
• Support the work of the fostering team manager through monitoring (and or undertaking if requested by the manager) fostering household’s Health and Safety form, DBS checks and Medicals to ensure these remain in timescales.
• Contribute to the organisation of team events.
• Support the work of the wider Fostering Service, including contributing to the organisation of countywide fostering events.
• Participate, with the line manager in the development of specific individual and shared targets and objectives annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) or equivalent by experience, which may include specific practical qualifications.
• Experience of working with children and families.
• Experience of working with the public and the ability to maintain clear boundaries and open communication with clients and colleagues.
• An awareness of the impact of trauma on children’s behaviour.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to act assertively and resolve conflict.
• Ability to manage own workload and time effectively.
• An ability to work in partnership with social work colleagues and other professionals.
• Familiarity with children’s safeguarding protocols, the Children Act 1989 and the 2011 Fostering Service Regulations and National Minimum Standards for Fostering

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

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

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 are dedicated to making a positive difference for residents, communities and businesses across the county. 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, Greater Essex was 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.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

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 https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

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 have queries on this role or require anything further, please email [e-mail]

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