Community Support Worker Fixed Term, Part Time £25,395 to £32,131 per annum full time equivalent Location: Witham Closing Date: Thursday 31st July 2025 at 11.59pm Please note that this is a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity till the 31st of March 2026. This is a part time role, offering 28 hours per week. Possible working patterns to be discussed at interview. Interview Date: W/C the 18th August 2025. 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 having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row. This vacancy can accommodate a newly qualified social worker. The Opportunity Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity, and compassion; promoting the development and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers, and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future. Working with Social Workers and Personal Advisers, you will deliver bespoke interventions, in accordance with pathway planning, to care leavers who are becoming or who have become parents. You will be required to manage a caseload, assessing risk through direct work, and helping individuals reach their full parenting potential. You will coordinate a peer support network for care leaver parents and support them to access parenting and baby groups in their local communities. With relevant experience of working with young people or care leavers, or educated to Level 3 (RQF). You will be passionate about engaging with and providing support in the community. Accountabilities Work with the social worker or personal adviser to assess parenting needs and provide support to care leavers, to enable them to live independently, focussing on supporting individuals to build networks and access services within their local communities. Contribute to the development of pathway plans which meet each individual's parenting needs. Work collaboratively with others, including health visitors, midwives, and social care, to support the individual to thrive as a confident new parent. Accountable for working within the statutory legal framework, policy, and guidance and to act on behalf of the Social Care Directorate in fulfilling statutory responsibilities under the Children Act 1989, the Children Leaving Care Act 2000, and The Children and Social Work Act 2018. Responsible for highlighting issues and working with social workers to safeguard individual care leavers and their children. Build strong, effective relationships with care leavers providing practical advice, support, and empowering young people to make decisions in their lives and to self-advocate. Work collaboratively across the service, with internal and external partner agencies to deliver objectives and ensure improved outcomes for care leaver parents. Provide information and advice in relation to accessing third party agencies relevant to the needs of the young person (e.g. benefits, mental health support, and housing). Attend meetings as required by the Line Manager and coordinate peer support sessions, to provide information, insight, and guidance. The Experience You Will Bring Experience within a social care setting, an NVQ/BTEC Level 3 or equivalent is desirable. Evidence of continuing professional development and knowledge in relevant professional area, such as housing, employment, care or leaving care. Experience of building strong, effective relationships with young people. Experience of undertaking direct, activity based work with young people. Knowledge of legislative and policy guidance applicable within Social Care settings. Be able to work as part of a team and be flexible with an ability to work some evenings and weekends. Familiarity with the principles of the Children's Act 1989 and the Children Leaving Care Act 2000 and Children and Social Work Act 2018.