Social Care Practitioner - Customer Service Centre
Permanent, Full Time
£38,487 to £51,834 per annum
Location: Countywide across Essex
Working Style:
As a Social Worker registered with Social Work England or an HCPC‑registered Occupational Therapist, you will work in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment at the front door of Adult Social Care. For new referrals and requests for information to Adult Social Care, you will advise and provide initial triage and proportionate assessment. You will work in line with our four key principles: prevention, early intervention, enablement and safeguarding.
Within Adult Social Care Connects, as a registered professional, you will be a source of professional guidance and act as a mentor to colleagues, supporting a team that provides person centred information, advice and guidance to adults across Essex.
This is a unique opportunity to be the first point of professional decision‑making for new contacts into Adult Social Care. You will assess risk, apply professional curiosity, and direct people to the right support at the earliest opportunity. Working across all adult client groups, you will make timely, legally‑sound judgments that shape a person’s entire social care journey.
Each day will present a variety of telephone-based case management and triage, lead on case reflective discussions with colleagues and seek opportunities to network with all partner organisations both within Essex and out of area.
Our Social Workers and Occupational Therapists contribute to the effectiveness of the wider ASC Connects team, ensuring colleagues are kept up to date with training and practice knowledge, feel supported and motivated to deliver an excellent customer journey.
This role is well‑suited to an experienced frontline Social Worker or Occupational Therapist, who wants to further develop their skills and broaden their impact at the front door of Adult Social Care.
Responsibilities will include…
1. Managing adult social care contacts and carrying out timely, proportionate responses by telephone and further investigation where required.
2. Working within statutory and legal frameworks, applying policy and guidance to determine when thresholds for statutory intervention are met.
3. Providing professional input into decision‑making, assessments and the commissioning of services.
4. Supporting the Deputy Team Manager in developing the service, strengthening partnerships and improving links with internal and external organisations.
5. Providing constructive feedback to support staff learning, leading reflective practice case discussions.
6. Contributing to the training, coaching and development of new and existing staff.
7. Working with the ASCC management team to continually review, refine and improve processes and practices to ensure consistency and quality.
8. Working collaboratively with partners to achieve the best outcomes for the people of Essex whilst safeguarding ECC’s interests.
9. Applying systemically informed, strengths‑based, trauma informed practice knowledge and approaches which promotes early intervention, prevention and independence.
10. Encouraging and model curious conversation to support continuous professional curiosity across the service.
11. Influencing planning, decision‑making and case discussions across agencies.
12. Supporting individuals, families and communities to live well and age well in line with ECC’s strategic aims.
About You
13. Degree‑level qualification in Social Work or Occupational Therapy, with current professional registration to the appropriate governing body.
14. Evidence of ongoing professional development and the capability to practice in line with current professional frameworks and standards.
15. Minimum of two years’ experience post ASYE in a social care setting, with evidence of frontline work supporting adults with diverse needs.
16. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and engage with people from a range of backgrounds.
17. Experience of developing effective working relationships with partners, agencies and communities to achieve shared outcomes.
18. Understanding of the financial implications and responsibilities linked to commissioning support.
19. Evidence of clear, confident decision‑making to manage and mitigate risk.
The role the role may involve travel across Essex, therefore a driving licence or ability to meet travel requirements through other means will be required.
Why Join Us?
In June 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our Adult Social Care services as “Good” with a score of 73%
“The local authority had a good structure and processes in place to enable people to be supported successfully, and support people to remain independent and live healthy lives. The workforce was passionate about supporting people to achieve these outcomes and the local authority had good knowledge of their area, the people living there and the demographics.”
You can read the full report on the CQC website
20. and about the LGPS.
21. Volunteering leave
22. 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service
23. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
24. Employee Networks – communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC
25. Payment of your professonal registration fees!
Whatever you want to achieve in your social work career, you can do it here.
*T&Cs Apply.
For more information contact ) 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, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
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.
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