Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda - one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We're immensely proud of our flexible working options.

ECC is transforming to be far more proactive and our new model centres on a transformational shift from focussing on long term care and support to early intervention, recovery and enabling people to live independently for as long as possible. Our mission is to make the best and most sustainable use of all resources available to the adult, their families and carers; to ensure they have access to information and tools to enable them to live healthily and independently for as long as possible; and, to exercise choice and control over their lives, while ensuring safety, dignity and quality of life for all the adults we work with, including those in need of long term care.

The Team
The North Physical and Sensory Impairments Team is based in Magnet House, Clacton and Essex House, Colchester and covers the Tendring and Colchester districts. The team supports adults aged 18 and over and their carers using a recovery model of intervention. The team consists of a Team Manager, a Deputy Team Manager, Senior Social Workers, Social Workers, a Specialist Sensory Social Worker, Occupational Therapists and Community Support Workers.

Your Role
You will need to be passionate in demonstrating expert and effective practice ability in complex situations. Managing a reduced caseload and supporting colleagues with complex cases, with an ability to mitigate high levels of risk. This will involve working collaboratively with statutory and non-statutory/voluntary agencies ensuring a joined up approach. It is essential that you have significant experience of social work or occupational therapy, modelling good practice and providing expert advice and guidance.

You will be accountable for assessments and reviews of complex social care needs and provision of support for vulnerable adults to ensure they are safe and have good outcomes to promote independence. Working within the statutory legal framework, policy and guidance, determining when the threshold for statutory intervention has been reached in line with legislative and organisational standards within the Care Act 2014.

We will help you with your progression by defining annual specific individual and shared targets and objectives against the performance management framework.

• Degree or equivalent in social work, occupational therapy.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. professional capability framework, knowledge and skills statement.
• Current registration with the HCPC
• Significant experience of social work or occupational therapy, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date understanding of all relevant legislation, regulations and guidance
• Knowledge around complex medical conditions, sensory issues and how they can impact adults on a day-to-day basis
• Knowledge and experience of using the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care, to ensure those adults that meet the requirements of NHS funded care receive that support. To support staff in understand the Framework and how to evidence primary health needs.
• Experience of mentoring both newly qualified and experienced staff and being a subject matter expert in professional practice.
• Experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members and/or carers and other multi-agency professionals
• Developing strong relationships with partners, other agencies and the local community to achieve joint objectives and offer a supportive framework for children and vulnerable adults.
• Understand the financial implications of care packages commissioned.
• Proven track record of clear decision making in order to highlight and limit the potential risks associated with intervention.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wide 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 ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

As part of employment with ECC should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please visit:

ECC is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found on https://www.workingforessex.com/benefits

ECC 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 Essex Recruitment Team on 033 005 83330*
*Calls to this number are charged in the same way as calls to numbers starting 01 or 02, please check with your service provider