Advanced Skills Worker - Working for Essex

About the role

Advanced Skills Worker

Permanent, Full Time

£31,931 to £36,423 per annum

Location: Basildon

Interview Dates: week commencing 6th October onwards.

Join our brand-new children’s homes to help shape and empower brighter futures for our young people.

Are you passionate about supporting young people and ready to take the next step in your career? Whether you're an experienced Residential Worker or Youth Worker, this is your opportunity to become an Advanced Skills Worker in our newly opened, purpose-built children’s homes in Basildon.

The role will be based across our brand-new Basildon sites; Battleswick and Takeley End - where you'll help create safe, nurturing environments for young people aged 11–17 who have experienced trauma.

We’re looking for compassionate professionals who want to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families across Essex. In return, you'll be part of a team of passionate, like-minded professionals, supported by an encouraging and approachable management team. You'll also benefit from access to high-quality training and development opportunities, helping you grow and advance your career within the child and family sector.

Hear more about the rewarding role of an Advanced Skills Worker here

Role overview:

As an Advanced Skills Worker (also known as a Residential Team Leader) you’ll play a vital role in supporting children and young people within a residential care setting. You’ll provide compassionate guidance and practical support to both young people and their families, ensuring they receive the highest standard of care through consistent, professional practice.

Creating a safe, caring, and stable environment is at the heart of this role. You’ll bring specialist knowledge and a trauma-informed approach to help young people feel secure, valued, and empowered to grow. Every day, you’ll contribute to their development and learning, helping to improve long-term outcomes and build brighter futures.

You’ll also use your expertise in residential care to work directly with young people and families, setting and achieving meaningful goals. As a senior member of the team, you’ll offer day-to-day guidance to care staff and formally supervise a group of residential workers, helping to build a strong, skilled, and supportive team under the leadership of the Registered Manager and Deputy Manager.

What You’ll Do

As an Advanced Skills Worker, you’ll:

Lead with confidence– Manage and guide shifts to create a safe, secure, and nurturing home environment where young people feel supported and valued.
Champion therapeutic care– Help maintain a balanced, trauma-informed setting that promotes healing, growth, and positive risk-taking.
Build meaningful relationships– Foster trust and connection with young people and colleagues to support holistic development both in the home and the wider community.
Deliver high standards– Ensure daily practices align with quality frameworks and policies, contributing to a consistently high level of care.
Collaborate for success– Work closely with managers and external partners to meet regulatory standards and deliver the best outcomes for children.
Focus on individual progress– Develop tailored plans for each young person, proactively identifying risks and reviewing interventions to support their journey.
Support key meetings– Participate in and facilitate meetings that empower young people and promote a learning culture within the home.
Grow the team– Mentor and support colleagues, helping to build specialist knowledge and strengthen the overall capability of the service.
Keep things running smoothly– Oversee the day-to-day operations of the home, ensuring it remains a high-quality, outcome-focused environment.
Drive performance– Work towards shared goals and personal development targets as part of our performance management framework.

What We’re Looking For

Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or willingness to complete within 2 years – fully funded).
Experience working directly with children and young people in residential settings.
Strong communication and listening skills and the ability to engage with others effectively and at all levels.
Knowledge of a broad range of specific childcare theories and practices together with relevant policies and legislative framework.
Knowledge and understanding of Child Protection Procedures together with an appreciation for the impact of trauma effects on child behaviour.
Confidence in leading shifts and facilitating group meetings.

What You’ll Get

37-hour working week + potential overtime opportunities
26 days annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy more
Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
Essex Rewards – discounts at hundreds of retailers
Lifeworks Health & Wellbeing Platform
2 paid volunteering days (individual) + 2 team volunteering days annually
Ongoing learning and development to support your career journey

You will work an average 37 hours a week with shift times being 7.00am – 2.30pm or 2.00pm – 9.30pm and you will have every other weekend off.

If shortlisted, the interview process will be a face-to-face interview at the home.

Due to nature of this role any applicants need to be at least 21 years old to undertake this post.

Ready to Apply?

If you’re ready to bring your skills, compassion, and energy to a team that’s changing lives, we’d love to hear from you.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

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.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

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

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