Community Support Worker – Centralised Safeguarding Triage
Fixed Term, Full Time
26,284 to 33,256 Per Annum
Location: Chelmsford
Closing Date: Monday 27th July 2026 at 11.59pm.
Please note that this is a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity till the 31st of March 2027.
Please note you will be expected to attend the office at County Hall, Chelmsford once a week on a Wednesday.
Interview Date: W/C Monday 10th August.
Safeguarding Adults Triage Practitioner – The Opportunity
Essex County Council Adult Social Care is committed to a strengths-based, preventative approach that places safeguarding at the heart of its work. Our model is built on four key principles: prevention, early intervention, enablement, and safeguarding.
This role is pivotal in our safeguarding pathway, focusing on the triage and management of low-risk safeguarding concerns. You will be the first point of contact for new safeguarding referrals, applying professional curiosity and sound judgement to assess risk, determine proportional responses, and ensure timely and appropriate action.
Working alongside qualified Social Workers and other professionals, you will contribute to safeguarding adults at risk of abuse or neglect, ensuring that concerns are addressed early and effectively, and that individuals are supported to live safely and independently.
Accountabilities
- Triage incoming safeguarding concerns, responding to low-risk cases and determining appropriate next steps in line with the Care Act 2014 and Making Safeguarding Personal.
- Apply a strengths-based approach to assess risk, gather relevant information, and make proportionate decisions about safeguarding responses.
- Liaise with internal teams and external agencies (e.g. health, housing, police) to gather information and ensure coordinated safeguarding activity.
- Support the development and implementation of safeguarding plans, ensuring timely interventions and clear outcomes.
- Maintain accurate records and contribute to safeguarding documentation, including Section 42 decision-making and case notes.
- Provide advice and guidance to professionals, families, and individuals on safeguarding processes and available support.
- Attend safeguarding meetings and contribute to multi-agency discussions where appropriate.
- Promote a culture of early intervention and prevention, identifying opportunities to reduce risk and improve outcomes for adults at risk.
The Experience You Will Bring
Essential:
- Experience working in a social care or safeguarding setting, ideally with adults at risk.
- NVQ/BTEC Level 3 or equivalent qualification.
- Understanding of safeguarding legislation and guidance, including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and local safeguarding procedures.
- Ability to assess risk and apply professional judgement in triaging safeguarding concerns.
Desirable:
- Experience of working collaboratively with multi-agency partners to support adults at risk.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with individuals in distress.
- A certificate in First Aid and/or knowledge of Sign Language is desirable.
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.
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