Social Worker - Children in Care, West Essex

Essex County Council; Harlow; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

An established local authority is seeking a dedicated Social Worker for their Children in Care team. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of children and young people in care. With a strong emphasis on flexibility and well-being, the council provides a supportive environment where social workers can thrive. You will engage in meaningful work, ensuring positive care experiences, and preparing children for their future. Join a dynamic team that prioritizes professional development and innovation, making a real difference in the community.

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England as a social worker.
• Experience in case recording and applying social work knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Work with children and young people in care, ensuring positive experiences.
• Develop permanency plans and support transitions for children.

Skills

Emotional Intelligence

Information Technology Proficiency

Case Recording

Flexibility

Education

Diploma or Degree in Social Work

CQSW, CSS or Equivalent

Tools

Case Recording Systems

Job description

Social Worker - Children in Care, West Essex

Type: Permanent, Full Time

Salary: £37,185 to £50,081 per annum

Location: Harlow

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 27th April 2025

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.

Essex County Council understands how important flexibility and wellbeing are for our colleagues working across children's social care. We have developed a nine-day working fortnight for full-time frontline social workers within children's services.

The Team

Sonia and Padraig talk about our great team.

Our Children in Care team in West Essex is supportive and creative, where everyone looks after each other. Our experienced managers prioritize high-quality, regular, reflective supervision and support, including ad hoc and informal support daily. We practice social work from a systemic perspective, promoting strengths-based, relationship-based, and trauma-informed practice. The Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) offers outstanding training opportunities for all social workers, with access to high-quality development programs.

Role Responsibilities

Children in Care teams work with children and young people up to age 18 who are in care, either placed with foster carers or in residential homes. They ensure positive care experiences, prepare children for transition to leaving care or returning home, develop permanency plans (including SGO and adoption), undertake life-story work, and support children in returning to their birth families.

Minimum Requirements

• Diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS, or equivalent
• Registration with Social Work England (SWE) as a registered social worker
• Capability to practice in accordance with current professional standards (e.g., PCF, KSS)
• Experience in case recording
• Ability to apply social work knowledge with emotional intelligence and confidence in challenging situations
• Proficiency in information technology and case recording systems
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends if necessary

To learn more about our services, visit: Children & Families

Watch our 'No Magic' Children & Families video to get a better understanding of our work.

Why Essex?

As one of the UK's largest and most dynamic local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating environment with over 1,420 square miles serving 1.8 million residents. We are committed to transformational change, innovation, and delivering quality services at lower costs. Recognized for productivity, Essex is an ideal place for career development and community contribution.

In February 2025, Greater Essex joined the Government's devolution priority programme, working toward establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. Learn more about devolution and local government reorganization on our careers site.

Equality and Inclusion

Essex County Council is a Disability Confident Leader and is committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet minimum requirements under our Job Interview Scheme. We also prioritize veterans and care leavers in our recruitment process. We support flexible working, unpaid carers, and uphold high standards of integrity and ethics, including adherence to the Nolan principles.

Additional Information

The role requires mobility across Essex, including travel and transportation of service users. A driving license and access to a vehicle are essential or the ability to meet mobility needs through other means.

If your role requires a DBS check, you will need to register with the DBS update service, which is an annual subscription. For more details, visit https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

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

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For queries or further information, contact: [e-mail]

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