Support Worker – Family Time Support and Support Service North

Social Care Today; Colchester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days leave

Local Government Pension

Job summary

Essex County Council in Colchester is seeking a Support Worker for Family Time Support and Support Service North. The role involves supporting children and families, implementing care plans, and collaborating with social workers to deliver interventions under the service's framework.

You will work across Essex, travel as required, hold NVQ/BTEC Level 3 or equivalent, and maintain professional standards. The post offers a permanent, full-time contract with a salary of £26,284 to £33,256 per annum

Qualifications

• Evidence of continuing professional development and in-depth knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Experience of building strong relationships with children and families in times of challenge and crisis.
• Experience of observing, facilitating, and reporting on Family Time.

Responsibilities

• Support children and young people in care to have safe and meaningful family time.
• Support social workers to implement and monitor care plans and write reports.
• Maintain high standards of professional practice and contribute to service improvement.
• Highlight issues and implement safeguarding plans for a child.
• Collaborate across the service with internal and external partners to improve outcomes.

Skills

CPD

Communication skills

Partnership building

Education

NVQ/BTEC Level 3

First Aid certificate (desirable)

Job description

Support Worker - Family Time Support and Support Service North

Permanent, Full Time

£26,284 to £33,256 Per Annum

Location: Colchester

Closing Date: Monday 9th November 2026 at 11.59pm

Interview Date: Thursday 19th November 2026.

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 Opportunity

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.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for supporting children and young people in care to have safe and meaningful family time with their family members, in accordance with their care plans.
• Responsible for supporting social workers to implement and monitor care plans, and write reports where required, which deliver interventions for children and families.
• Responsible for maintaining high standards of professional practice which contribute to continuous improvement across the service.
• Responsible for highlighting issues and implementing plans to safeguard a child.
• Building strong, effective relationships with the service users, providing practical advice and support, where necessary and deemed appropriate, enabling children and families to sustain change and function effectively within the community.
• Work collaboratively across the service, with internal and external professional partner agencies, to ensure improved outcomes for children and families.
• Provide information and advice in relation to involvement/accessing of third party agencies relevant to the needs of the service user (e.g., benefits agencies, immigration, and housing).
• Participate in meetings, reviews, case conferences, and court hearings to provide information, insight, and evidence.
• Writing effective reports which could be used in professional meetings, forums, and court.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to NVQ/BTEC Level 3 or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and in-depth knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Experience of building strong, effective relationships with children and families in times of challenge and crisis.
• Experience of observing, facilitating, and reporting on Family Time.
• Experience of undertaking direct, activity based work with children and families where required.
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues impacting children, young people, and families, leading them to require support.
• Knowledge of legislative and policy guidance applicable within Social Care settings.
• Proven track record of working with partners and external agencies.
• A certificate in First Aid and/or knowledge of Sign Language is desirable in this role.

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.

Company: Essex County Council

Salary: £26284.00 - £33256.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension

Location: England, Essex, Colchester, Essex

Sector: Health and Social Care

Sector: Social Care

Job Role: Support Worker