Social Worker – Children in Care, Mid

Social Worker - Children in Care, Mid Essex

Fixed Term,Full Time

£38,487 to £51,834 Per Annum

Location:

Chelmsford

Working Style:
Community-based worker

Closing Date: 9th August 2026

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 18 Months.

Interviews will be held in person at County Hall, Chelmsford 17th August 2026.

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 having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.

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.

Are you ready to be part of an incredible social work team that's all about support, creativity, and making a real impact on young lives? We currently have a permanent opportunity in the Children in Care Team Mid.

This is an opportunity to work in the Children in Care team on a fixed term or secondment basis. This role will expand your experience in direct work with children, court statement writing and engagement in court proceedings.

• A strong communicator
  – able to build relationships and clearly present information.
• Analytical and insightful
  – confident in assessing situations and identifying risks of significant harm.
• Organised and deadline-driven
  – able to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work on time.
• Decisive and responsible
  – understands safeguarding and takes appropriate action when needed.
• Creative and child-centred
  – opportunities for creative direct work with children and advocating their wishes and feelings

• Unwavering Support:Our experienced managers are there for you, every step of the way. They prioritise providing top-notch supervision, so you can excel in your role. Plus, our team believes in daily ad-hoc support because we're in this together.
• A Systemic Approach:At Essex County Council, we approach social work from a systemic perspective. We understand that the challenges our children and young people face go beyond individual circumstances, and we work together to address these complexities.
• Strengths and Trauma-Informed Practice:We utilise a strengths-based, relationship-based, and trauma-informed approach to our practice. We empower our social workers to make a genuine difference.
• Top-Notch Training:The Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) is your gateway to outstanding training and development opportunities. We're committed to helping you grow in your career.

As part of our Children in Care team, you'll be working with children and young people up to the age of 18 who need our help. Whether they're with foster carers or in residential homes, your goal is to ensure their experience in care is a positive one.

You’ll visit children and young people in placement, develop permanency plans (including Special Guardianship Orders and adoption), and help them understand the reasons behind being in care through life-story work. You will build an effective professional support network for the children and young people. You will represent the Local Authority in Family Court and present our care plans for the children and young people, gaining court report writing skills and presentation of evidence.

And for some, your support could be the key to them returning home to their birth family.

• You’ll need a diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS, or an equivalent qualification.
• You should be registered with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.
• You’ll need to demonstrate your capability in practice, following current professional standards like the Professional Capability Framework (PCF) and Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS). You’ll excel in case recording and confidently handle complex social and family situations.
• Proficiency in using tools like Word and social work case recording systems is a must.
• Flexibility is key – you might…