At Essex County Council (ECC) we are "Serious about Social Work".

Having won the Best Social Work Employer of the Year Award and been awarded 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, ECC 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 Team

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 foster carers 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 SGO and adoption, undertake life-story work to enable a child to understand the reasons for being in care and also support children to return home to birth family. The teams are all committed to high quality work and engagement with all children in care to maximise young people's potential. Like many other areas across Essex, they believe in working collaboratively with agencies including Health and Education to ensure that care plans

The Role

The role is pivotal in guiding, supporting and nurturing high quality social work practice within the team and across the service. Your role includes working across the quadrant and county with colleagues, partners and families to ensure families receive the support they require. To protect children from harm and to develop their well-being.
Working as part of a highly supportive team to ensure Social Workers well- being is high on the agenda, ensuring families receive the service at the right level and that interventions are proportionate.

Skills and knowledge

• Degree in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
• Registration with Social Work England as registered Social Worker
• Previous Experience of:
• Delivery of services in Children's Social Care
• People Management
• Resource planning and management
• Quality assurance and customer care
• Achieving person centred outcomes
• Work with complex statistical, financial and performance information
• Policy development and change management
• Experience of working in a political environment, skills in understanding and responding to different perspectives and taking a cross organisational perspective
• Required to be mobile throughout Essex. To be able to attend meetings or provide cover in other locations. Driving licence and car or access to other effective transport arrangements is essential.
• Required to work flexibly as required, including evenings and weekends if necessary.

You will be committed to systemic, relationship based social work, providing effective, innovative interventions and with the ability to build good partnerships, both with our external partners and within the organisation.

In turn, we can offer you a highly competitive package that includes access to our desirable pension scheme, life assurance (of three times your salary), generous annual leave - plus the option to buy additional holiday. Optional benefits such as tax-free savings on childcare and discounted health and dental care are also available, and we will encourage you to develop your skills with ongoing training opportunities.

Crucially, we know that there is more to life than work. We are a motivated and enthusiastic team - but we want you to find an exceptional work/life balance. As such, you will be encouraged to make the most of our commitment to flexible working arrangements, including the chance to work from home.

So, if you want a better quality of life - complemented by a high degree of job satisfaction - then we would be delighted to welcome you to our friendly and inclusive team.

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.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. For more information please use the following link:

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 Recruitment Team on 03330135888