Overview
Social Worker, Family Worker (Link Role) - West Essex, Permanent, Full Time
Location: Harlow • Working Style: Community-based worker • Closing Date: 29 January 2026
We’re recruiting for Social Workers (Link Family Workers) to join our high-performing Family Solutions team based in West Essex. This is a fantastic opportunity to work within a service described by Ofsted as “exceptional”, delivering early help to families facing multiple and complex challenges. Family Solutions is part of Essex’s Children & Families service, working holistically with disadvantaged families to help them make meaningful and lasting changes. You’ll be part of a supportive, multi-disciplinary team that values collaboration, innovation, and professional growth. For more information about our business area, please visit: Children & Families. Please view the No Magic Children & Families video.
The Opportunity
As a Social Worker (Family Worker), your role will be varied, impactful, and deeply rewarding and you will:
* Act as a source of advice and support for colleagues, including joint visits and joint working on complex cases (e.g., concerns around neglect).
* Support the team to build positive and constructive working relationships with colleagues in statutory children’s services.
* Manage your own caseload and assess safeguarding risks.
* Work in partnership with the team manager and practice supervisor to review referrals and support threshold decisions as required by the team.
* Build strong, trusting relationships with families to promote positive change.
* Provide practical and specialist advice.
* Facilitate complex family meetings and coordinate additional support services.
* Offer emotional and practical support in homes and community settings.
* Work closely with your manager or senior social worker through regular supervision.
* An opportunity to support the further integration of Family Solutions and Children Social Care as part of the Family First Partnership Programme.
Accountabilities
* Support the manager and practice supervisor to undertake screenings of new contacts, understanding threshold.
* Determine the direction and actions required to progress cases forward on a day-to-day basis; recognise when key decisions regarding risks/concerns need to be referred to the Team Manager or Practice Supervisor.
* Act as a source of advice, guidance and support to colleagues in relation to complex cases; mentor and guide alternatively qualified colleagues in best practice.
* Undertake holistic assessments of family needs to create intervention plans and identify how outcomes can be achieved, delivering interventions (including group work programs) to help families make change.
* Facilitate complex family meetings, managing competing views of families and professionals to find achievable solutions.
* Undertake individual and group programmes of work to enable children and families to develop their skills to resolve issues and problems themselves; provide information and accompany families to access other local services.
* Provide practical, personal and emotional support to families in homes or other settings as part of an agreed plan to achieve sustainable family outcomes.
* Actively participate in regular supervision to review work and ensure effective interventions for families.
* Ensure that the principles of effective practice are embedded in service delivery; work with staff and partners to ensure effective risk management in line with the SET child protection procedures.
* Specific targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring
* Qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England, and post-ASYE.
* Recent frontline children’s services experience, including assessing and managing CIN and/or CP Cases.
* At least three years’ experience post-qualifying.
* Willingness to work towards Practice Educator Qualification.
* A strong commitment to uphold the standards and values of the social work profession.
* Evidence of continuing professional development, knowledge in relevant professional area and commitment to evidence-based practice.
* Significant practical experience of working with families with multiple and complex needs.
* Effective communication, problem-solving and assessment skills with a track record of building positive professional relationships with individuals and families with complex needs.
* Experience applying a solution-focused approach and providing practical advice and support to families to enable positive and sustainable outcomes.
* Ability to work in partnership with others to maximise outcomes for families in line with the Family Solutions operating principles.
* Ability to work independently and as part of a team and to use supervision appropriately.
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. A driving licence and car, or the ability to meet mobility requirements through other means, is essential.
Why Essex?
Essex County Council offers a stimulating public service environment with flexible working options and a focus on innovation. We are committed to safeguarding and to the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. We are Disability Confident and welcome applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the job, with reasonable adjustments available during the process. Details about DBS checks and related requirements are provided, including DBS update service information. Further information about opportunities and the Essex Talent Community is available on our careers site.
For queries on this role or further information, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk. Follow us on social media or view more details on our careers page.
Downloads
Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours
#J-18808-Ljbffr