Social Worker - Children in Care, Mid Essex

Connected Local Government; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 37,000 - GBP 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking a committed Social Worker for their Children in Care Team in Chelmsford. This permanent role involves working with children and young people in care, helping them navigate their experiences positively. Candidates should hold a qualified social work degree and be registered with Social Work England. The position offers a competitive salary range of £37,185 to £50,081 per annum and promotes flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Support for unpaid carers

Commitment to diversity in hiring

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.
• Demonstrated capability in case recording.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when necessary.
• Ability to travel throughout operational areas.

Responsibilities

• Work with children and young people up to 18 years old.
• Develop permanency plans and conduct life-story work.
• Ensure children's experiences in care are positive.

Skills

Strong communicator

Analytical and insightful

Organised and deadline-driven

Decisive and responsible

Creative and child-centered

Education

Diploma or degree in social work

Tools

Word

Social work case recording systems

Job description

Social Worker - Children in Care, Mid Essex

Permanent, Full Time

£37,185 to £50,081 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 15th February 2026

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 role is ideal for someone who is:

• 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.

What You’ll Do:

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

Requirements:

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 will 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 need to work evenings and weekends when necessary, ensuring that children’s needs are always met.

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.

Ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Join our team and be a part of something truly meaningful. Let’s make a difference together!

Additional Information:

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

Please 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.

Essex County Council understands 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.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) if your role requires 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 [e-mail]