Family Support Worker - Children in Care

About the role

Family Support Worker - Children in Care

Fixed Term, Full Time

£26,284 to £33,256 Per Annum

Location: Basildon

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: Sunday 19th July 2026 at 11.59pm.

Please note that this is a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months.

Interview Date: Wednesday 5th August 2026.

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.

The Role

The Family Worker will work closely with families to build strong relationships, based on respect and positive regard.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Children & Families

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

Accountabilities

Holding their own caseload, Family Workers will utilise support from their supervisor and colleagues about the direction and actions required to move a case forward on a day-to-day basis and refer decisions regarding risk or significant concern to their manager or practice supervisor.
Working alongside children, young people, and their families to change areas of their lives which may mean they have reduced life chances. Provide both practical and specialist advice as well acting as a lead coordinator for additional support services where appropriate.
Working as part of a Children in Care team to undertake holistic assessment of family needs and help identify how outcomes can be achieved, ensuring that assessments and intervention plans fully reflect family and young person’s views and aspirations.
Provide specific practical, personal, and emotional support to families in their homes or other settings as part of an agreed plan, which will be reviewed jointly with families, leading to achievement of agreed and sustainable family outcomes.
Undertake programmes of work to support children and families to develop their skills to resolve issues and problems themselves, provide them with information and accompany them when needed to help them access other local provision.
Lawfully share information and work with colleagues and partners to ensure effective planning and delivery of services to families.
Participate actively in regular supervision to review work and ensure effective interventions for families. As part of this, take part in regular professional development sessions designed to ensure that the principles of effective practice are fully embedded in service delivery.
Follow SET Child Protection procedures, ensuring that swift discussion takes place with Practice Supervisor or Team Manager when child protection or other public protection concerns arise.
Maintain a high standard of practice reflecting a value-based approach to working with children and their families.
Ensure all work is recorded accurately, and in a timely fashion using agreed Systems.
Follow the Council's Equal Opportunity Policy and Diversity Strategy and observe the standard of conduct which prevents discrimination taking place.
Follow the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the Council's Health and Safety Policy and all locally agreed safe methods of work.
Undertake at the discretion of the Team Manager, such other activities as may from time to time arise which are consistent with the nature of the job described above.
Participate in regular appraisals and identify and respond to your own and team development needs.
Maintain up to date knowledge of research, departmental policies, and procedures, and to have in depth knowledge of legislation and guidance relevant to providing services to children and families.

The Experience You Will Bring

Ideally a qualification such as NVQ level 3 in Children and Families or equivalent knowledge and skills from experience working in a related field as well as evidence of working directly with children and families accessing statutory/ non-statutory services.
Commitment to ongoing professional development and aware of the principles of evidenced based practice.
Able to provide practical advice and support to families to enable identified families to achieve sustainable outcomes.
Effective communication skills, good problem solving and assessment skills, reliability, and good time management skills.
Awareness of relevant legislation such as Children Act 1989, Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and relevant education legislation.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team and to use supervision appropriately.

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 March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, 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.

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.

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 daniel.warner@essex.gov.uk

Downloads

Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours

Family Support Worker – Children in Care