Social Worker - Children in Care, West Essex
Permanent, Full Time
£37,185 to £50,081 per annum
Location: Harlow
Working Style:
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 2 nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.
Essex County Council understand how important flexibility and wellbeing is for our colleagues working across children's Social Care and that we need to think differently. We have therefore developed a for full time frontline Social Workers within Children’s services.
The Team
Our Children in Care team in West Essex are a very supportive and creative team where everyone looks after each other. Our experienced and available managers prioritise providing high quality and regular, reflective supervision and support to all our social workers as well as adhoc and informal support on a day-to-day basis. We also have reflective supervision on cases and consider particular dilemmas on cases. Essex County Council practices social work from a systemic perspective and promotes, strengths based, relationship based and trauma informed practice. The Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) provides outstanding training opportunities for all Social Workers’, and you will have the opportunity to access high quality training and development opportunities.
Children in Care teams work with children and young people up to the age of 18 who are in care– they’re unable to live at home and are either placed with a foster carer or live in residential homes. They work with children and young people to ensure their experiences in care is a good one and that the work undertaken prepares them for their transition into leaving care or return home to family. The CIC teams receive cases in proceedings after the first hearing, they visit children and young people in placement, develop permanency plans which include Special Guardianship Order (SGO) and adoption, undertake life-story work to enable a child to understand the reasons for being in care and support children to return home to birth family.
What you’ll need to join our Social Work teams
1. Diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
2. Registration with Social Work England (SWE) as registered Social Worker.
3. Demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS).
4. Case recording.
5. Demonstrate ability in the application of SW knowledge, using emotional intelligence, analytical skills and act with confidence in challenging social and family situations.
6. A good working knowledge and ability to use information technology and related systems. Word, SW case recording systems.
7. Required to work flexibly as required, including evenings and weekends if necessary.
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 ensure everyone matters in. 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 February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about
, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
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.
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.
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