Social Worker – Leaving and Aftercare, Mid

About The Role

Social Worker – Leaving and Aftercare, Mid Essex – Permanent, Full Time*

Pay: £34,902 to £50,081 per annum**

Location:

Chelmsford

Working Style:
Community-based worker

Closing Date: 22nd February 2026

Essex County Council understands 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.

This position is open to Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) and Experienced Social Workers. The starting salary for a NQSW is £34,902 per annum and this will rise to £37,185 per annum on successful completion of the ASYE programme. For an experienced Social Worker the basic salary is between £37,185 per annum and £50,081 per annum with 9 entry points across the range.

Leaving & Aftercare Teams concentrate on good outcomes for young people aged 16‑25 who are in – or have left – care. They are multi-disciplinary teams made up of mental health coordinators and targeted youth advisors.

Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity, and compassion; promoting development and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers, and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

Social workers manage a defined caseload, including assessment of risk and purposeful intervention through direct relationship-based work and review. Delivering excellent practice and value for money services. A registered social worker, educated to degree level, with ability to demonstrate practice in accordance with current professional standards. Experienced in developing strong working relationships with partners, other agencies, and stakeholders to deliver improved outcomes.

• Assess complex social care needs and provide support to children and families.
• Develop support plans that gain commitment to solutions that enable the young person, and family to build resilience and look forward to a brighter future.
• Accountable for working within the statutory legal framework, policy and guidance and determining when the threshold for statutory intervention has been reached.
• Work collaboratively, building effective relationships with internal and external partnerships and stakeholders and the voluntary sector, to assist children and their families and carers in gaining support.
• Accountable for conducting assessments and plan responses to safeguard a child or young person and promote their welfare, including appropriate intervention as determined by need.
• Develop a child‑centred approach which enables early intervention and prevention and increases independence.
• Pro‑actively influence in a range of inter‑agency planning, decision making and case discussions.
• Communicate assessments and professional judgements clearly and succinctly both orally and in writing, including report writing and court statements.
• Work with families, communities, and individuals to help people get the best start in life and age well, supporting strategic aims.

• A recognised social work qualification i.e., Diploma, degree or MSc in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with Social Work England as a registered social worker.
• Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge and Skills Statements.
• Experience with in a social work setting with evidence of challenging social and family situations.
• Strong communication skills and an ability to develop a rapport and engage with diverse groups of individuals.
• Developing strong relationships with partners, other agencies, and the local community, to achieve joint objectives and offer a supportive framework for children and families.
• Understand delivery of…