Social Worker - Adoption Mid Essex

Social Worker - Adoption Mid Essex

Permanent, Full Time

£36,124.00 to £51,834.00 Per Annum

Location: Countywide

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 28th July 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 2^nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.

This vacancy can accommodate a newly qualified social worker.

The Team

This is an exciting opportunity to join an established team of social workers who co-ordinate, undertake and support assessment of suitable adoptive households and seek to identify suitable adoptive placement for children whose care plans are one of adoption. The team is based in Chelmsford however the adoption agency covers the county and therefore we support colleagues in our neighbouring quadrant teams when required. 

The Role

• To act as a role model and source of professional expertise in relation to current best practice in adoption.
• To uphold statutory requirements of both adoption and children’s legislation, plus any Departmental requirements.
• To participate in team meetings and to attend any other meetings as required, including wider agency/departmental meetings
• To attend relevant children’s reviews and adoption planning meetings when required by the team manager (with the exception of Recruitment and Post Adoption)
• To lead and contribute to training courses when required
• To ensure both the safety and best interests of children are paramount and that child protection procedures are followed
• To be accountable for working cases and to undertake direct work with children as requested by the team manager to include assessments of children, and any siblings
• To undertake the assessment of prospective adopters (with the exception of Recruitment Team and Post Adoption), support approved adopters through introductions and the placement of a child through to the making of an adoption order
• To maintain an up to date record of activity on case files in line with the department case recording policy, produce reports, attend court and give verbal presentations to the Adoption Panel as required
• To participate in case discussions, Strategy Meetings, Legal Case discussions, Child Protection Conferences and Statutory Reviews.
• To work effectively with other child care social workers to ensure that children are placed for adoption with the minimum of delay
• To promote and comply with Safeguarding procedures
• Record details of assessments on the system; collate cohort and trend data, monitor outcomes and respond to data requests.

To read more about our business area, please visit:Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

The Experience You Will Bring

• Degree in Social Work (Diploma), CQSW, CSS or equivalent
• Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Registered Social Worker.
• Be able to demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge& Skills Statement (KSS)
• Experience of leading a team in a Social Care environment
• Experience or a good understanding of working within Children and Family/Fostering services
• Open to change and ready to innovate, you will be keen to join an environment where you can stretch yourself professionally, make an impact individually and deliver positive outcomes collaboratively
• Court experience preferable
• Analytical report writing skills are essential
• Understanding impact of neglect/abuse on children and trauma in children important
• Flexible working is required with occasional out of county work
• Writing in-depth analytical reports.

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.

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 March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, 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.

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.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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