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.
Requirements
We’re looking for someone with experience in Court Work, including preparing Court Reports, Care Planning, and occasionally supporting the adoption process.
- 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.
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 are with foster carers or in residential homes, your goal is to ensure their experience in care is a positive one.
You will 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.
Qualifications
- You will 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 will 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 such as 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.
Other Requirements
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. A driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
Equal Opportunity & Disability Confidence
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 veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Legal & Administrative Notes
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.
As part of employment with Essex County Council, 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.
We hope to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities and news – join the Essex Talent Community.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email essexsharedservices@essex.gov.uk
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