Social Worker – D-BIT, Connecting and Uniting Families
Essex County Council
Social Worker – D-BIT, Connecting and Uniting Families
Fixed Term, Full Time
£36,124 to £51,834 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Community-based worker
Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months.
An exciting opportunity has risen for a Social Worker to join the Divisional Based Intervention Teams (D-BIT) Connecting and Uniting Families (over 10’s) Team on a 12-month fixed term or secondment opportunity.
The Connecting and Uniting Families Team (based within the D-BIT Service) is a secondary team working in partnership with front line children’s services, devising robust and structured connecting/reunification plans and supporting families intensively for a period of up to 18 months.
The team is based in Chelmsford and provides a countywide response to requests for bespoke connecting and reunification activity. Assigned caseloads are limited, reflecting our commitment to bespoke, relevant, intensive family support activity. Staff work cohesively together, providing support to families as a team with the capacity to flex and adapt as required to support our activity with families referred to the service.
This role will also encompass our staying close work, working with young people in, and leaving care up to the age of 25 years, supporting them to connect and or unite with their families where appropriate. Developing and strengthening these relationships aims to provide them with the ongoing connection, support and sense of belonging which will aid their transition into adulthood and beyond.
Working arrangements are flexible, with acknowledgement that a percentage of family- based activity is likely to need to take place outside of usual working hours.
To read more about our business area, please visit: Children & Families
Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video
What you’ll need to join our Social Work teams
As a Social Worker joining the team you will work flexibly with children and their families, most within their homes and in their communities. We work with families at times that are good for them, so you would likely find yourself undertaking a considerable amount of work with families in their homes in the afternoons and early evenings. You may be required to work occasional times on Saturdays where it is a best fit for families. You will have the opportunity throughout this secondment to develop multiple skills and knowledge, through developing your Systemic, Trauma Informed and Solution Focused practice.
Applicants will have:
- Degree or Diploma in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
- Social Work England registration as a registered Social Worker
- Working knowledge and skills level in using Trauma Informed, Systemic and Solution Focused practice in work with children, young people and families
- Experience in planning activities and programmes for children, young people and parents
- Detailed knowledge of current legislation pertinent to Child Protection (e.g. Children Act1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children), Guidance and Regulations
- Knowledge and understanding of child development, relating theory and practice.
The role will be based in Chelmsford. There will be a combination of face-to-face and online elements to day-to-day working routines.
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?
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.
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 resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page.
Downloads
Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours
Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months.
An exciting opportunity has risen for a Social Worker to join the Divisional Based Intervention Teams (D-BIT) Connecting and Uniting Families (over 10’s) Team on a 12-month fixed term or secondment opportunity.
The Connecting and Uniting Families Team (based within the D-BIT Service) is a secondary team working in partnership with front line children’s services, devising robust and structured connecting/reunification plans and supporting families intensively for a period of up to 18 months.
The team is based in Chelmsford and provides a countywide response to requests for bespoke connecting and reunification activity. Assigned caseloads are limited, reflecting our commitment to bespoke, relevant, intensive family support activity. Staff work cohesively together, providing support to families as a team with the capacity to flex and adapt as required to support our activity with families referred to the service.
This role will also encompass our staying close work, working with young people in, and leaving care up to the age of 25 years, supporting them to connect and or unite with their families where appropriate. Developing and strengthening these relationships aims to provide them with the ongoing connection, support and sense of belonging which will aid their transition into adulthood and beyond.
Working arrangements are flexible, with acknowledgement that a percentage of family- based activity is likely to need to take place outside of usual working hours.
To read more about our business area, please visit: Children & Families
Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video
What you’ll need to join our Social Work teams
As a Social Worker joining the team you will work flexibly with children and their families, most within their homes and in their communities. We work with families at times that are good for them, so you would likely find yourself undertaking a considerable amount of work with families in their homes in the afternoons and early evenings. You may be required to work occasional times on Saturdays where it is a best fit for families. You will have the opportunity throughout this secondment to develop multiple skills and knowledge, through developing your Systemic, Trauma Informed and Solution Focused practice.
Applicants will have:
- Degree or Diploma in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
- Social Work England registration as a registered Social Worker
- Working knowledge and skills level in using Trauma Informed, Systemic and Solution Focused practice in work with children, young people and families
- Experience in planning activities and programmes for children, young people and parents
- Detailed knowledge of current legislation pertinent to Child Protection (e.g. Children Act1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children), Guidance and Regulations
- Knowledge and understanding of child development, relating theory and practice.
The role will be based in Chelmsford. There will be a combination of face-to-face and online elements to day-to-day working routines.
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?
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.
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 resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page.
Downloads
Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours