Locum ASC Social Worker
Temporary (3 months), Full Time
£225 PAYE/£288 Umbrella
Location: Colchester and Tendring
Working Style: Community-based worker
Closing Date: 8th January 2026
The Team
We are looking for a passionate Social Worker to join our Neighbourhood team in North Essex. The work will be across both Tendring and Colchester teams. The teams form part of a Neighbourhood approach linking closely with our partners in health, housing and voluntary sector. The team work with Adults aged 18 and above across all specialisms, undertaking a wide range of duties under the Care Act 2014 from assessment, reviews, mental capacity assessments and adult safeguarding.
Working within North Essex offers many opportunities for collaboration and networking with partner agencies. The Team's make up include Social Workers, Occupational Social Workers and Community support workers. This offers a diverse perspective to how we support local residents, enabling them to live independent lives. We offer the opportunity to explore current Assistive Technology and equipment as part of a sustainable solutions in empowering and enabling better outcomes for local residents who require our services.
This role offers hybrid working, with an expectation to be office based at either Rowan House in Colchester or Magnet House in Clacton around 2 to 3 days per week depending on business need for collaborative team working and training. The role covers work in both Colchester and Tendring.
About the Role
Working to support adults and their families who have complex social needs and are more vulnerable as a result of disability, exclusion, or diminished capacity, you’ll maximise their potential to live independently.
You will manage a caseload, including assessment of risk and purposeful intervention through direct work, commissioned services and review. With case work focusing on the most complex and challenging adult cases, you’ll ensure that adults and their families are safeguarded. You’ll share ideas and best practice, providing specialist advice as part of a multi-disciplinary team sharing your knowledge as a Social Worker.
This is a dynamic role promoting innovative person centred and partnership working with adults, their informal carers and in collaboration with other statutory, and non-statutory services to support and promote their mental health, well-being and outcomes
Take a look at our short video here to get a glimpse into the role and what it’s like to work for Essex County Council.
About You
To apply, you should be a qualified social worker with current Social Work England registration and 3 years post qualifying experience (including a minimum of 2 within ASC). You’ll bring significant experience of social work, modelling good practice and providing advice and guidance in complex situations. As, as a subject matter expert in relevant professional practice, you should have a comprehensive understanding of current legislation, regulations, and guidance.
With experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members, carers, and other multi-agency professionals, we’re looking for your ability to develop strong relationships with partner agencies and the local community to provide a supportive framework for vulnerable adults.
You’ll also bring:
- Evidence of continuing professional development and capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards.
- An in-depth understanding of the financial implications of commissioned care packages.
- The ability to make clear decisions, to highlight and limit potential risks associated with intervention.
This role involves travelling around Essex and beyond. A driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means - is essential.
Why Join Us?
With us, you can achieve more – for yourself as well as the vulnerable adults you work to support. We’re always looking for new ways to deliver even better services, Social Workers play an integral role in our preventative approach to Social Care. We encourage our multi-disciplinary teams to share their ideas and experience. We work together to get things done. Bring your positive, proactive attitude, and we’ll empower you to make the most of your experience within Essex County Council (ECC) Adult Social Care services.
In June 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our Adult Social Care services as “Good” with a score of 73%
“The local authority had a good structure and processes in place to enable people to be supported successfully, and support people to remain independent and live healthy lives. The workforce was passionate about supporting people to achieve these outcomes and the local authority had good knowledge of their area, the people living there and the demographics.”
You can read the full report on the CQC website here.
Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.
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.
What you should do next
Please note that Essex County Council has determined that the off-payroll working rules will apply to this assignment and where a worker elects to provide their services through an intermediary (such as a personal services company) then income tax and primary national insurance contributions will be deducted at source from any payments made to the intermediary.
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.
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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email essexsharedservices@essex.gov.uk