Social Worker – Family Support & Protection, North

Social Worker – Family Support & Protection, North Essex

Permanent, Full time

Salary: £34,902 to £50,081 per annum

Location:

Clacton on Sea

Working style:
Community based worker

Closing date: 4 February 2026

Position open to Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) and experienced social workers. The starting salary for a NQSW is £34,902 per annum, rising to £37,185 after successful completion of the ASYE programme.

As a Family Support & Protection (FS&P) Social Worker you will work with families on Child in Need and Child Protection plans, promoting sustainable change through systemic and strengths‑based approaches. Your responsibilities will include:

• Assessing families’ needs and developing tailored support plans.
• Managing court work including S.7 reports and, when necessary, taking families into proceedings.
• Conducting Special Guardianship Order (SGO) assessments.
• Working closely with public law, partner agencies, and the local community to achieve joint objectives.
• Providing reflective supervision and contributing to continual professional development.

• A recognised social work qualification (Diploma, degree or Masters) and current registration with Social Work England.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development aligned with relevant competency frameworks.
• Experience in challenging social and family situations.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to develop rapport with diverse groups.
• Capability to build relationships with partners and other agencies.
• Understanding of value‑for‑money interventions balanced against need.
• Clear decision‑making skills to assess and mitigate risks associated with interventions.

To be suitable for this role you must be able to:

• Travel freely across Essex and beyond to meet service users and attend meetings.
• Hold a valid driving licence and have access to a car, or be able to meet the mobility requirements through alternative means.
• Undergo a DBS check and register with the DBS update service.

Essex County Council is a Disability Confident Leader and commits to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements. We also interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements. We value integrity and ethical behaviour and expect all employees to uphold our code of conduct and the Nolan principles.

We offer a flexible working arrangement, support for unpaid carers, and access to further training and development through the Essex Social Care Academy. Detailed information on pay and reward, ways of working, and organisational behaviours is available upon request.

For enquiries regarding this role, please contact