Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding Triage

Interview Date: W/C Monday 12^th January 2026 

To read more about our business area, please visit: Adult Social Care

Safeguarding Adults Triage Practitioner – The Opportunity

Essex County Council Adult Social Care is committed to a strengths-based, preventative approach that places safeguarding at the heart of its work. Our model is built on four key principles: prevention, early intervention, enablement, and safeguarding.

This role is pivotal in our safeguarding pathway, focusing on the triage and management of low-risk safeguarding concerns. You will be the first point of contact for new safeguarding referrals, applying professional curiosity and sound judgement to assess risk, determine proportional responses, and ensure timely and appropriate action.

Working alongside qualified Social Workers and other professionals, you will contribute to safeguarding adults at risk of abuse or neglect, ensuring that concerns are addressed early and effectively, and that individuals are supported to live safely and independently.

 Accountabilities

• Triage incoming safeguarding concerns, responding to low-risk cases and determining appropriate next steps in line with the Care Act 2014 and Making Safeguarding Personal.
• Apply a strengths-based approach to assess risk, gather relevant information, and make proportionate decisions about safeguarding responses.
• Liaise with internal teams and external agencies (e.g. health, housing, police) to gather information and ensure coordinated safeguarding activity.
• Support the development and implementation of safeguarding plans, ensuring timely interventions and clear outcomes.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to safeguarding documentation, including Section 42 decision-making and case notes.
• Provide advice and guidance to professionals, families, and individuals on safeguarding processes and available support.
• Attend safeguarding meetings and contribute to multi-agency discussions where appropriate.
• Promote a culture of early intervention and prevention, identifying opportunities to reduce risk and improve outcomes for adults at risk. 

The Experience You Will Bring

• Experience working in a social care or safeguarding setting, ideally with adults at risk.
• NVQ/BTEC Level 3 or equivalent qualification is desirable.
• Understanding of safeguarding legislation and guidance, including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and local safeguarding procedures.
• Ability to assess risk and apply professional judgement in triaging safeguarding concerns.
• Experience of working collaboratively with multi-agency partners to support adults at risk.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with individuals in distress.
• A certificate in First Aid and/or knowledge of Sign Language is desirable. 

Please note you will be expected to attend the office at County Hall, Chelmsford once a week on a Wednesday. 

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider 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 the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service.  The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate.  This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.  For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

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.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email daniel.warner@essex/gov.uk

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