Senior Practitioner – Children in Care – North Essex

Senior Practitioner – Children in Care – North EssexPermanent, Full Time48,205 to 57,988 Per AnnumLocation: Clacton on SeaWorking Style: Community-based workerClosing Date: 4th November 2026
Essex County Council understand how important flexibility and wellbeing is
for our colleagues working across children's Social Care and that we need to
think differently. We have therefore developed a

nine-day working fortnight

for full-time frontline Social Workers within Children’s services.

Make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in
care.

At Essex County Council, we're committed to helping children and young
people achieve the best possible outcomes. As a Senior Practitioner in our
Children in Care Team, you'll play a key role in supporting children in
foster care and residential placements, helping them achieve stability,
permanency and positive futures.
What You'll Be Doing
Managing a complex caseload of children in care.

Supporting and mentoring social workers within the team.

Representing Essex County Council in court proceedings.

Developing permanency plans, including reunification, Special
Guardianship Orders and adoption.

Undertaking life-story work and supporting children through their
care journey.

Chairing meetings and deputising for the Team Manager when
required.

Working collaboratively with families, carers, schools, health
professionals and partner agencies.
About You
You'll be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England,
with:

Significant experience within Children's Services, particularly
Children in Care.

Strong knowledge of safeguarding, child protection and relevant
legislation.

Court experience and confidence managing complex cases.

A passion for relationship-based practice and achieving positive
outcomes for children.

The ability to support, coach and develop colleagues.

To read more about our business area, please visit:

Children & Families

Please take a look at our

‘No Magic’ Children & Families video
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 are dedicated to making a
positive difference for residents, communities and businesses across the
county. 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 March 2026, Greater Essex was accepted on to the devolution priority
programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County
Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for
this role, 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

resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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. Further details can be found on our

careers page

.
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