Personal Advisor - Leaving and After Care Service

About the role

Personal Advisor - Leaving and After Care Service

Fixed Term, Full Time

£31,931 to £36,423 Per Annum

Location: Harlow

Closing Date: Wednesday 30th April 2025 at 11.59pm

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

Remote working from home can be supported however there is an expectation to work from the office (Harlow) regularly.

Interview dates: Thursday 15th May 2005.

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.

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

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

The Team

Leaving and Aftercare Teams concentrate on good outcomes for young people aged 16 – 25 who are in care or have left care. The teams are made up of social workers and personal advisors, mental health co-ordinators and targeted youth advisors, and they all have opportunity to undertake focused work with young people. They look to maximise the potential of young people who remain in care by working with providers, other agencies and partners. For those who have left care, our teams continue to offer advice, information and help to enable young people to live independently – and to access education, training and employment.

The Opportunity

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 those who have recently left. 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.

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 wellbeing. This may include domestic tasks and transporting where necessary.
To specifically support and advise young people leaving care in key areas including health, benefits, education, training, employment, accommodation/housing and personal well-being.
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 identify and support young people to overcome barriers to learning.
To enable and empower young people to make decisions in their lives and to self-advocate
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 develop Personal Action Plans with young people.
To encourage young people not only to fully engage with developing their individual plans, but to participate in the development of the service as a whole.
To be prepared to work in a variety of ways, as well as direct work with individuals, for example in groups and running “drop ins” etc.
To work alongside colleagues both within social services and from other agencies, and to engage with significant people in the young person’s life (members of the family, community etc).
To support young people through times of major transitions from childhood to adulthood.
To liaise with others involved to ensure that assessed needs are met within the agreed plans for the child or young person in a timely way.
To build up effective interagency networks and have an understanding of voluntary and statutory agencies as well as an awareness of opportunities within the local community.
To maintain records and write reports as required in accordance with directorate policy and procedures.
To carry out a range of practical tasks to assist young people with both planned and unplanned activities.
To attend meetings as required by the line manager, e.g. reviews, planning meetings etc.
To maintain an awareness of relevant information and resources that may assist children, young people and their carers.
To keep abreast of practice developments through reading and attending training courses.
To be aware of Essex Child Protection Guidelines.
To carry out any other appropriate duties that may be required commensurate with the grade of the post.

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. e.g., 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.
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 daniel.warner@essex.gov.uk

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Personal Advisor – Leaving and After Care Service