Social Worker - Children with Disabilities, South Essex

About the role

Social Worker - Children with Disabilities, South Essex

Fixed Term, 12 months

Full Time, 37 hours per week*

£37,185 to £50,081 per annum

Location: Basildon

Closing Date: 11th January 2026

This position is open to Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) and Experienced Social Workers. The starting salary for a NQSW is £32,408 per annum and this will rise to £36,101 per annum on successful completion of the ASYE programme.

In line with our Skills and Capability Framework, for an experienced Social Worker the basic salary is between £37,185 per annum and £50,081 per annum with 9 entry points across the range.

*At Essex County Council, we value our colleagues' well-being and recognise the importance of flexibility in the demanding field of children's Social Care. That's why we're excited to introduce an innovative approach to work-life balance: the nine-day working fortnight, designed specifically for full-time frontline Social Workers within Children’s services. nine-day working fortnight

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 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.

Children with Disabilities

The Children and Young People with Disabilities Service supports children and young people up to 25 years old with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their families. The service works out of offices in Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester and Harlow. Each office has four teams that work closely with each other to provide a smooth and integrated service.

The teams are:

0 – 16 Social Care
16 – 25 Social Care
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Preparing for Adulthood (PFA’s)

A high needs further education team processes applications for additional funding to help learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities access Post 16 college provision.

Job Purpose Summary

Managing a defined caseload, the social worker is responsible for working effectively with children, young people and families/carers to achieve positive change and improved outcomes. This includes enquiry, assessment, purposeful intervention through direct work and review in relation to Child Protection, Child in Need and Children Looked After; achieving permanency through care for Children in Care.

What you will need

Diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent and registration with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.
Demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability.
Framework (PCF), Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS).
Demonstrate an ability in the application of social work knowledge, using emotional intelligence, analytical skills and act with confidence in challenging social and family situations.
A good working knowledge and ability to use information technology and related systems e.g. Word, social work case recording systems.
Required to work flexibly as required, very occasionally including evenings and weekends

To read more about us please visit: https://www.workingforessex.com/role/children-families

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

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.

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.

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 or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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Social Worker – Children with Disabilities, South Essex