Senior Social Worker - Neighbourhood Team, Chelmsford

About the Team

We're looking for a passionate and experience Social Worker to join our Mid Essex Neighbourhood Team. The team primarily operate across Braintree, forming part of a Neighbourhood approach, linking closely with our partners in health, housing and voluntary sector. They work with people aged 18 and above across all specialisms, undertaking a wide range of duties under the Care Act 2014 from assessment, reviews, mental capacity assessments and adult safeguarding.

The team aim to support independence and maximise potential, focussing on early intervention and prevention. This includes developing relationships and working closely with partners and building networks and community resilience. We're determined that with the right support, everyone can maintain or achieve some independence and we're proud to be working to make these ambitions a reality.

We are proud to offer hybrid working options, with an expectation to be office based at County Hall, Chelmsford around 2 to 3 days per week depending on business need for collaborative team working and training.

About the Role

As a Senior Social Worker in the team you will:

Provide Expert Guidance: As a highly skilled Social Worker you will foster a supportive environment and model best practice, offering specialist advice, and mentoring both newly qualified and experienced colleagues.

Assess and Support: You will manage a diverse and complex caseload, undertaking comprehensive assessments and creating person-centred care plans.

Ensure Compliance: You will support the people we work with to live full and fulfilling lives, within the framework of our statutory Care Act requirements, relevant legislation and organisational standards.

Manage Caseloads: We look to our Senior Social Workers to provide expert social work practice in complex situations, upholding the highest standards of professional practice.

Collaborate: The ability to collaborate and build strong relationships across the Council and with our partners helps shape solutions that are high-quality and promote independence.

Represent Adult Social Care: Confident in chairing multi-agency meetings, you will proactively take the lead to ensure a social care perspective is actively represented.

About You

To apply, you should be a qualified social worker with current Social Work England registration and be post-qualified 2 years with an in-depth knowledge of complex cases and The Care Act. You will be AMHP, BIA or PE qualified, or have secured intention to complete these qualifications.

We require a proactive and passionate social worker who has a proven record of working complex cases and supporting other staff members. A worker who wants to develop and become part of the management Team.

You'll bring significant experience of social work, modelling good practice and providing advice and guidance in complex situations. We're also looking for your ability to mentor both newly-qualified and experienced team members. As, as a subject matter expert in relevant professional practice, you should have a comprehensive understanding of current legislation, regulations and guidance.

With experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members, carers and other multi-agency professionals, we're looking for your ability to develop strong relationships with partner agencies and the local community to provide a supportive framework for the people we work with.

You'll also bring:

• Evidence of continuing professional development and capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards.
• An in-depth understanding of the financial implications of commissioned care packages.
• The ability to make clear decisions, to highlight and limit potential risks associated with intervention.

This role involves travelling around Essex. A driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means - is essential.

Why Join Us?

In June 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our Adult Social Care services as "Good" with a score of 73%

"The local authority had a good structure and processes in place to enable people to be supported successfully, and support…