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. Not only have we been named Outstanding by Ofsted, we are delighted and at the same time humbled to have been crowned Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in the last three years!

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 nine day working fortnight 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 also support children to return home to birth family.

What you’ll need to join our Social Work teams

• Diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
• Registration with Social Work England as registered Social Worker.
• Demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS).
• Case recording.
• Demonstrate ability in the application of SW knowledge, using emotional intelligence, analytical skills and act with confidence in challenging social and family situations.
• A good working knowledge and ability to use information technology and related systems e.g. Word, SW case recording systems.
• Required to work flexibly as required, including evenings and weekends if necessary.