Specialist Children and Family Worker

As a highly autonomous community base worker you will be working in family homes and community setting with the option to complete administrative work at home or in our office conveniently located in the centre of Colchester.

You will be expected to be in the office for some meetings, to cover duty up to 4 times a month and to collaborate with other workers at other times. When you are in the office parking is available, alongside some parking outside the office.

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. Not only have we been named Outstanding by Ofsted, we are delighted and at the same time humbled to have been crowned Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in the last three years!

Why work with us? 

• Use your skills to make a difference to the lives of children and families who experience difficulties and inequalities.
• Work for a high performing team with great team morale and friendly, helpful, and supportive colleagues.
• Access high quality training and development to help develop your career within the child and family sector.
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• 37 hour working week. Monday to Friday.
• Local Authority Pension Scheme. For more details please visit: https://www.essexpensionfund.co.uk/
• Continuous Service – Joining us from another local authority? Then you could benefit from bringing your time served and benefits with you.

The role - overview: 

The work of a Specialist Children and Family Worker is a varied and rewarding supporting children and families with many different types of complex need. 

Key aspects of the work include: 

• Working closely with families to build strong relationships with all family members.
• Promoting positive change with families.
• Provide both practical and specialist advice as well acting as a lead coordinator for other support services.
• Managing your own caseload
• Managing safeguarding risks to children
• Taking the lead on an area of professional practice (such as mental health) for the team through supporting team members, and liaising with professionals outside of Family Solutions
• You will be expected to operate flexibly to meet needs of the families with some work taking place out of normal office hours.
• You will work across North Essex covering Colchester

About you:

• Significant practical experience of working with children and families with multiple and complex needs.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience in relevant area e.g., Domestic Abuse, Substance Misuse, Education, Mental Health, Parenting etc.
• Effective communication skills with a range of children, families, and professionals.
• Ability to keep records on our computer-based system, complete assessments and other key documents in a way which is accessible to children and families, yet professional.

You will be mobile throughout North Essex, occasionally travelling around the County of Essex and beyond. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

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

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.

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 christine.simmons@essex.gov.uk

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