Locum Social Worker - Children in Care, Mid

Locum Social Worker - Children in Care, Mid

Temporary, Full Time

£225 PAYE / £288 Umbrella

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 16th July 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? Look no further! Our Children in Care team in Mid Essex is not your average workplace - it's a place where every member looks out for each other and where innovation thrives. We currently have a permanent opportunity.

We’re looking for someone with experience in Court Work, including preparing Court Reports, Care Planning, and occasionally supporting the adoption process.

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.

Here's What Sets Us Apart:

Unwavering Support: Our experienced managers are there for you, every step of the way. They prioritise providing top-notch supervision, so you can excel in your role. Plus, our team believes in daily ad-hoc support because we're in this together.

A Systemic Approach: At Essex County Council, we approach social work from a systemic perspective. We understand that the challenges our children and young people face go beyond individual circumstances, and we work together to address these complexities.

Strengths and Trauma-Informed Practice: We're all about strengths-based, relationship-based, and trauma-informed practice. It's not just a buzzword here; it's our way of life. We empower our social workers to make a genuine difference.

Top-Notch Training: The Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) is your gateway to outstanding training and development opportunities. We're committed to helping you grow in your career.

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 even help them understand the reasons behind being in care through life-story work.

And 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 and have 3 years post-qualifying experience.
• You should be registered with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.
• You'll 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.

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!

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

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

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? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.

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.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

Please note that Essex County Council has determined that the off-payroll working rules will apply to this assignment and where a worker elects to provide their services through an intermediary (such as a personal services company) then income tax and primary national insurance contributions will be deducted at source from any payments made to the intermediary.

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 essexsharedservices@essex.gov.uk