Personal Adviser - Leaving and After Care Service

About the role

Personal Adviser - Leaving and After Care Service

Permanent, Full Time

£31,931 to £36,423 per annum

Location: Basildon

Closing Date: 23rd February 2026

This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has an expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in Ely House, Basildon, 2-3 days per week, with the remaining time allowing for remote working if desired, in line with the organisation’s needs.

Essex County Council understand how important flexibility and wellbeing is for our colleagues working across children's Social Care and that we need to think differently. We have therefore developed a nine-day working fortnight for full time frontline Social Workers within Children’s services.

To read more about our business area, please visit:

Children & Families

The Opportunity

Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting the development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

The main focus of work will be, alongside Social Workers, to support young people who are “Looked After” (in care) and due to leave care, and to hold a caseload of young people who have left care up to the age of 25 years old. To consider all the important component parts that make up their individual lives in order to maximize their life opportunities and reach their full potential.

To carry out agreed plans to support young people both directly and indirectly, to act on behalf of the Social Care Directorate in fulfilling statutory responsibilities under the Children Act 1989, the Children Leaving Care Act 2000, and The Children and Social Work Act 2018.

Accountabilities

To give practical, personal and emotional support to young people in order to meet assessed need; to maintain and promote their health, physical, emotional development and well-being. This may include domestic tasks and transporting where necessary
To facilitate, directly and indirectly the assessment of need, engaging with the ongoing monitoring and reassessment of need, engaging with the ongoing monitoring and reassessment of need over time.
To hold a caseload of care leavers and undertake direct work where required
To enable and empower young people to make decisions in their lives and to self-advocate and to advocate on behalf of young people who do not have the skills to do this
To facilitate the construction of a Pathway Plan, from the assessment which establishes a viable response to established need over time.

To work alongside colleagues both within Social Care and from other agencies, in a variety of ways, for example in groups, running “Drop ins” in addition to undertaking direct work with young people and to engage with significant people in the young person’s life (members of the family, community etc).
To build up effective interagency networks to have an understanding of voluntary and statutory agencies and an awareness of opportunities within the Local Community.
To maintain records and write reports as required in accordance with Directorate policy and procedures.
To attend meetings as required by the Line Manager, e.g Reviews, Planning Meetings etc and carry out any other appropriate duties that may be required, which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

Educated to NVQ level 3 or equivalent by experience.
Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area. eg, Housing, Employment, and training Issues for young People
Experience in working creatively with in various ways young people including young parents
Experience in collaborating with other professionals and agencies for the benefit of the client
A commitment to working relationships which promote and support the clients’ developing independence
Be able to work as part of a team and be flexible with an ability to work some evenings and weekends
Full driving licence and the use of a car or access to a driver and vehicle for work purposes
Familiarity with the principles of the Children’s Act 1989 and the Children Leaving Care Act 2000 and Children and Social Work Act 2018

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.

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 jamielea.wallis@Essex.gov.uk

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Personal Adviser – Leaving and After Care Service