Senior Social Worker - Enhanced Support Countywide Inreach

Job details
Posting date:	02 February 2026
Salary:	£46,574 to £56,027 per year
Additional salary information:	Flexible Working, Hybrid Working
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	12 February 2026
Location:	Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH
Remote working:	Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week
Company:	Essex County Council
Job type:	Contract
Job reference:	req21722_1770044758

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Summary

This is a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity to 31st March 2027.

About the Team

We currently have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Social Worker to join our Countywide Enhanced Support Inreach Team. The team work alongside adults and young people with a complexity of needs related to their Learning Disability, Autism, Mental or Physical Health or a combination of these. In this role, your focus will be on people aged 16 and over, either in hospital, detained under the Mental Health Act or on the dynamic support register (i.e. at risk of that detention or hospital admission to an assessment and treatment unit).

This role requires your skills in assessment, using the relevant legal frameworks, including the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards legislation and will utilise your skills in carrying out detailed assessment of need, working closely with the person, their families, health and other relevant partners to ensure the person is supported to transition smoothly from hospital to a suitable care and support arrangement in the community. This role will work closely with health partners in both inpatient and community settings to prevent admission or placement breakdown, or to follow a defined discharge pathway

We are looking for someone with a real interest in relationship-based work, with a focus on building independence through a positive approach to risk and the strengths-based model. It is a great opportunity for either an experienced social worker looking for career progression or an existing Senior Social Worker wishing to broaden their experience outside of the quadrant-based work.

About the role

Managing your own complex caseload, as well as supporting colleagues with theirs, you'll be a source of specialist advice around working with people with a significant complexity of need, including mental health, autism and learning disability, to enable the mitigation of high levels of risk. You'll also bring your professional expertise to contribute to the development of practice standards and our four key principles of prevention, early intervention, enablement and safeguarding.

Your responsibilities will also include:

Working collaboratively across the Council, with partners and statutory and voluntary agencies, including education, to ensure a joined-up approach.
Care Act assessment with associated care and support planning
Compiling information for Mental Health Act tribunals, including preparation of Social Circumstances Reports.
Working with colleagues in Education and health around the Education, Health and Care plans (EHCP)
Taking part in a range of case conferences, court attendance, meetings, and statutory reviews, pro-actively taking the lead when a social care perspective is required. This will include s117 aftercare planning and presentation to relevant forums, i.e., S117 panel and Adult Social Care forums.
Developing a high level of expertise in particular areas of practice, and leading on those areas

About You

To apply, you should be a qualified social worker with current Social Work England registration and will be AMHP, BIA or PE qualified. You will be post-qualified at least 2 years with an in-depth knowledge of complex cases and The Care Act. A sound knowledge of the Children's Act would also beneficial.

There would be an expectation of a significant knowledge base around autism or neurodiversity, though there is scope for additional focussed training for the right applicant.

We require a proactive and passionate worker who has a proven record of working complex cases. You'll bring significant experience of social work, modelling good practice and providing advice and guidance in complex situations with the ability to mentor both newly-qualified and experienced team members.

As, as a subject matter expert in relevant professional practice, you should have a comprehensive understanding of current legislation, regulations and guidance. You'll have 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 the people we work with.

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. A driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means - is essential.

Why Join Us?

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.

Our teams are busy but warm, friendly and supportive. Our fabulous team managers will help you manage your workload and develop your practice.

We take your career just as seriously as you do, and we have a continuing professional development offer that's second to none.

We welcome diversity because it makes us grow and we're determined to become a fully inclusive and an anti-racist organisation.

What We Offer

We'll support you to be your best and will offer:

Ongoing opportunities for continuing professional development
Flexible working options
Employee wellbeing and counselling
Lease Car scheme
Life assurance of three times annual salary
Local Government Pension Scheme. View Key Facts and FAQ's about the LGPS.
Volunteering leave
27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
Employee Networks - communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC
Payment of your Social Work England registration fees!

Whatever you want to achieve in your social work career, you can do it here.

*T&Cs Apply.

Apply now.

For more information contact Abbie.Mollison@essex.gov.uk

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.

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