Children and Families Support Worker - Mid Essex

at  Essex County Council

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SUPPORT WORKER - MID ESSEX

Fixed Term, Full Time
£24,395 to £31,131 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Community-based worker
Please note that this is a fixed term / secondment contract opportunity until the 31st of March 2025, with the possible of an extension.
Please read the guidance on secondment posts on the Intranet including the section on ‘Agreeing an Internal Move’ which explains the expectations for you and your Line Manager before you apply for this role.
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!

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Responsible for supporting social workers and occupational therapists to implement and monitor care plans, and write reports where required, which deliver interventions for children and families.
• Responsible for maintaining high standards of professional practice which contribute to continuous improvement across the service.
• Responsible for highlighting issues and implementing plans to safeguard a child.
• Building strong, effective relationships with the service users, providing practical advice and support, where necessary and deemed appropriate; enabling children and families to sustain change and function effectively within the community.
• Work collaboratively across the service, with internal and external professional partner agencies, to ensure improved outcomes for children and families.
• Provide information and advice in relation to involvement/accessing of third party agencies relevant to the needs of the service user (e.g. benefits agencies, immigration and housing).
• Participate in meetings, reviews, case conferences and court hearings to provide information, insight and evidence.
• Writing effective reports which could be used in professional meetings, forums and court.

THIS PARTICULAR SECONDMENT IS PART OF A DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION (DFE) DESIGNATED FAMILY JUDGE TRAILBLAZER WHICH IS SEEKING TO REDUCE THE TIME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SPEND IN COURT DURING CARE PROCEEDINGS. THE FOCUS OF THIS ROLE WILL BE WORKING WITH FAMILIES IN THE PRE-PROCEEDINGS STAGE OF PLO SUPPORTING FAMILIES TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES AND PREVENT THE NEED FOR COURT PROCEEDINGS. THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE WORKING IN THE MID QUADRANT WITH FAMILIES IN PLO. THE POSITION WILL FEED INTO THE LARGER TRAILBLAZER PROJECT WHICH INCLUDES SOUTHEND, THURROCK AND SUFFOLK AND ALONG WITH THE OTHER 4 TRAILBLAZER PROJECTS WILL REPORT TO THE DFE AND SET THE FOCUS OF FURTHER WORK NATIONALLY.

Educated to Level 3 or with activity based alternative experience, in a social care setting, you will be passionate about engaging with and providing direct support in the community, building strong working relationships with partners to jointly deliver improved services.

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.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families
Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video