Young carers keyworker
| Posting date: | 05 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £25,081.00 to £27,653.00 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 March 2026 |
| Location: | Harlow, Essex, CM20 2ET |
| Company: | Essex County Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | req22021_1772709152 |
Summary
Young carers keyworker
Permanent, Full Time
£25,081 - £27,653 per annum
Location: Harlow
The post holder will be expected to operate flexibly, working out of normal office hours when required, to best meet the needs of the service users.
Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda - one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We're immensely proud of our flexible working options.
We are seeking a district based Key Worker to work within our West quadrant team to support Young Carers (aged 0-18), young adult carers (16-24) and their families. You will provide individualised support in relation to their caring role, to raise achievement and aspirations and to allow them to have the same life chances as their peers.
Key Accountabilities
- To work with Essex young carers and their families to identify priorities, support needs, interventions and goals, developing and implementing strategies for securing these. Using assessment and monitoring to motivate young carers and their families to achieve a shared and mutually agreed support plan/ contract
- To take up referrals and work with Essex young carers in order to identify, understand and meet their needs, with an emphasis on promoting positive outcomes.
- To work with Essex young carers in line with the agreed model, ensuring that the level of support meets the identified need including one to one support, peer group support, telephone support, advocacy, provision of information, signposting, training opportunities and workshops.
- To promote young carers self- awareness, confidence and encouraging their involvement in the design of their young carers service and supporting them in evaluating the impact of the service upon their own situation.
- To provide targeted outreach and awareness raising activities to other agencies to support the increased identification of Essex young carers including presentations, workshops and events.
- To pro-actively work in partnership with other agencies including educational settings and adult services to ensure ongoing support to young carers, particularly at points of transition and to enable Essex young carers to continue their education, employment or training.
- To support the development and facilitation of Essex young carers networks and forums to ensure that the voice of young carers is heard and that they are in a position to be able to shape and influence the service.
- To ensure that the Essex County Council policies, procedures and practice for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people are implemented.
Knowledge, skills and experience
- Educated to GCSE level or equivalent with a relevant professional qualification which is focussed on working with young people (e.g. LDSS, Social work, Youth and Community, Teacher, Careers) or equivalent or demonstrably equivalent experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development and knowledge in relevant professional area.
- A broad understanding of the issues affecting young carers and young people, opportunities for learning and the services provided by the partner organisations.
- Experience of working with young people on a one to one basis and in groups.
- Excellent communication skills with experience in effective collaborative working with other agencies at a local level.
- Experience of successfully involving young people and families in decision-making processes.
- Be flexible in their approach and have excellent time management skills and ability to work evenings, weekends and residential work in order to respond to young people's needs.
- The job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Depending on the geographical area, access to a vehicle or another efficient mode of transport will be required.