Social Worker - Assessment and Intervention Team Mid

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex County Council’s Assessment and Intervention Teams deliver safeguarding support for children, young people and families. The role involves incoming assessments, short-term interventions, and working with partners on Section 47 enquiries, with cases transferred to Family Support and Protection when needed.

You will manage a defined caseload, conduct enquiries and direct work with children in need, looked after children, and those at risk.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent and registration with Social Work England.
• Demonstrable capability of practice in line with Professional Capability Framework (PCF).
• Demonstrate ability to apply social work knowledge with emotional intelligence and analytical skills.
• Good working knowledge of information technology and related systems (e.g., Word; case recording systems).

Responsibilities

• Manage a defined caseload, working directly with children, young people, and families/carers.
• Conduct enquiries, assessments, and purposeful interventions to achieve positive change.
• Undertake direct work and reviews in relation to Child Protection, Child in Need, and Children Looked After.
• Support children in achieving permanency, including those in the care of the local authority.

Skills

Social work knowledge

Emotional intelligence

Analytical skills

Information technology

Mobility / driving

Education

Social work qualification (Dip/degree)

Tools

Word processing

Case recording systems

Job description

Our Assessment and Intervention Teams are the vital gateway through which children, young people, parents/carers, and partner agencies access Children and Families services. These teams play a crucial role in safeguarding and supporting children from pre-birth up to their 18th birthday. As part of the A&I service, you will undertake incoming assessments and deliver short-term, impactful interventions with families. The focus is on supporting Children in Need (CIN) and their families through a structured three-month intervention period. You will also be involved in Section 47 child protection enquiries, working collaboratively with the police and other agencies to assess and respond to immediate risks. Where longer-term support is required, cases are transferred to our Family Support and Protection Teams. Alternatively, families may be stepped down to Family Solutions as part of our Early Help Offer, if a social work service is no longer needed following assessment and brief intervention.

Responsibilities

• Manage a defined caseload, working directly with children, young people, and families/carers.
• Conduct enquiries, assessments, and purposeful interventions to achieve positive change and improved outcomes.
• Undertake direct work and reviews in relation to Child Protection, Child in Need, and Children Looked After.
• Support children in achieving permanency, including those in the care of the local authority.

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. 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. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

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

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent and registration with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.
• Demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS).
• Demonstrate an ability in the application of social work 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 e.g. Word, social work case recording systems.
• Required to work flexibly as required, very occasionally including evenings and weekends.

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.

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 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.