In Essex County Council we are "Serious about Social Work". Having recently won the Best Social Work Employer of the Year Award 2018 and been awarded 'Outstanding' by Ofsted this is an exciting time to join us. As if that wasn't enough, Essex has also been announced as a Partner in Practice by the Department of Education, and the Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) is the only Local Authority team in the country to be accredited by BASW as a CPD provider. We have invested in our workforce and created a positive environment for our social workers to make a difference and achieve change for our most vulnerable children and families through direct relationship-based social work practice. We have supported our staff to have an understanding of systemic theoretical framework and models underpinning our interventions; to have access to the right tools, equipment and resources; and also the right supervision, training and learning opportunities they need to be strong practitioners.

The role

Family Solutions was established across Essex to work holistically with disadvantaged families, with complex needs to enable them to make significant and sustainable positive changes to their lives.

The Family Worker (Link Role) Social Worker is a key role within the service and will work closely with families to build strong relationships, based on respect and positive regard.

• The postholder will be required to provide specialist advice and support with regard to their link role area, and co-ordinate provision of support from other services and partner agencies, as required.

• The post holder will be expected to have or be able to develop considerable knowledge of their link role area and act as a source of advice, guidance and support to team colleagues, through (for example) one-one support, leading subject matter development sessions and being the main link within the team to organisations relating to the thematic role they hold.

• Family Worker (Link Role) Social Workers will be expected to be able to share their extensive generic knowledge around working with families with multiple and complex needs with colleagues, support in case discussions and mentor and guide colleagues in the team with less experience. This will include sharing theoretical perspectives and underpinning social work policy and practice with colleagues / in teams.

• Family Worker (Link Role) Social Worker will feel confident to make appropriate decisions about the direction and actions required to move a case forward on a day to day basis and have the ability to recognise when key decision regarding risk/concerns need to be discussed/shared with supervisor or manager.

• The postholder will be expected to operate flexibly, working out of normal office hours and at weekends when required, to best meet the needs of the family.

• Working alongside children, young people and their families to change areas of their lives which may mean they have reduced life chances. Provide both practical and specialist advice as well acting as a lead coordinator for additional support services where appropriate.

• Working as part of a Family Solutions team undertake holistic assessment of family needs and help identify how outcomes can be achieved, ensuring that assessments and intervention plans fully reflect family and young person's views and aspirations.

• Provide specific practical, personal and emotional support to families in their homes or other settings as part of an agreed plan, which will be reviewed jointly with families, leading to achievement of agreed and sustainable family outcomes.

• Undertake programmes of work to support children and families to develop their skills to resolve issues and problems themselves, provide them with information and accompany them when needed to help them access other local provision

Skills and Knowledge

• Diploma or degree in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent and Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Registered Social Worker. Be able to demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS).

• Significant practical experience of working with families with multiple and complex needs.

• Evidence of a commitment to on-going professional development and to the principles of evidenced based practice.

• Be able to demonstrate a track record of building and sustaining positive professional relationship with individuals and families with multiple and complex needs.

• Experience of applying a solution focused approach and providing practical advice and support to families to enable them to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes.

• Ability to work in partnership with others to maximise outcomes for families in line with the Family Solutions operating principles.

• Effective communication skills, good problem solving and assessment skills, reliability and good time management skills.

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. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0333 013 5888.