Social Worker - Children in Care, Harlow

Essex County Council; Harlow; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Harlow is seeking an experienced Social Worker to join their Children in Care team. The role focuses on supporting children and young people, conducting court work, and developing permanency plans. Applicants should have a degree in social work and be registered with Social Work England. This opportunity offers training and a supportive environment to make a tangible difference in young lives.

Benefits

Top-notch training opportunities

Supportive management

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience in court work, including preparing court reports.
• Registration with Social Work England required.
• Capability following professional standards like PCF and KSS.

Responsibilities

• Work with children and young people in foster care or residential settings.
• Develop permanency plans and support life-story work.

Skills

Communication

Analytical thinking

Organization

Decision making

Education

Degree in social work or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

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Client:

Essex County Council

Location:

Harlow, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

8d9cf4825d6a

Job Views:

7

Posted:

13.08.2025

Expiry Date:

27.09.2025

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Job Description:

Permanent, Full Time

Salary: £34,902 to £50,081 per annum

Location: Harlow

Working Style:

Closing Date: 19th August 2025

Essex County Council understands the importance of flexibility and wellbeing for our colleagues in children's Social Care. We have developed a full-time frontline Social Worker role within Children’s services.

Are you ready to join an incredible social work team focused on support, creativity, and making a real impact on young lives? Our Children in Care team in West Essex offers a supportive and innovative environment. We currently have a permanent opportunity.

We’re seeking someone with experience in Court Work, including preparing Court Reports, Care Planning, and supporting the adoption process.

This role is ideal for someone who is:

• A 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 priorities and deliver high-quality work on time.
• Decisive and responsible – understands safeguarding and takes appropriate action when needed.

What Sets Us Apart:

Unwavering Support: Our experienced managers provide supervision and daily ad-hoc support, fostering a collaborative environment.

A Systemic Approach: We address challenges from a systemic perspective, working together to tackle complex issues.

Strengths and Trauma-Informed Practice: We focus on strengths-based, relationship-based, and trauma-informed approaches, empowering our social workers.

Top-Notch Training: The Essex Social Care Academy offers outstanding training and development opportunities.

What You'll Do:

You will work with children and young people up to age 18 in foster care or residential settings, developing permanency plans, supporting life-story work, and helping some return home.

Requirements:

• A diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS, or an equivalent qualification.
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Demonstrated capability following professional standards like the PCF and KSS.
• Proficiency in Word and case recording systems.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when necessary.

Join us to make a meaningful difference. Let's work together!

Why Essex?

As a large, dynamic UK local authority, Essex offers a stimulating environment with flexible working options, innovation, and opportunities for career development. We serve 1.8 million residents across 1,420 square miles and are committed to transformational change.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, aiming to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026.

The role requires mobility across Essex, including travel and transportation of service users. A driving license and access to a vehicle are essential.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All employees and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

To stay updated on opportunities, news, and events, please join our mailing list. For queries or further information, please contact us. Further details are available on our website.