Job Title: Full-Time Return Home Interviewer
Salary: £26,556– £28,764 per annum
Grade: B
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
If you are looking for something unique and to progress your own knowledge base and skills this is a great role for you. Thurrock Council are seeking to recruit a full-time Return Home Interviewer to join an independent Return Home Interview service for children and young people up to the age of 17 years (to the day before their 18th birthday) a statutory function, for Thurrock children reported as missing from home and care in borough.
About the Department
We are looking for an enthusiastic practitioner who will undertake the following focused duties:
- To provide an independent Return Home Interview service for children and young people up to the age of 17 years (to the day before their 18th birthday) a statutory function, for Thurrock children reported as missing from home and care
- To ensure the Voice of the Child is heard and the Return Home Interviewer is available to discuss the child’s concerns and worries.
- To receive and share information, across multiple agencies, ensuring adherence to GDPR regulations. Information will only be shared when appropriate and agreed via a key working group and or/individuals.
- To report accurate and complete information.
- To ensure that any intelligence, including safeguarding concerns, identified during a missing period are reported effectively and in a timely manner and to work towards reducing missing periods for Young People.
- To ensure Return Home Interviews are undertaken within the required timescales.
- To ensure the services are delivered within the councils child care policies
About the Role
To support ensure Return Home Interviews are undertaken within the required timescales and to report accurate and complete information. The RHI worker will attend meetings as necessary whilst ensuring they maintain their independence; this includes strategy meetings and other related meetings. The success candidate will ensure that any intelligence, including safeguarding concerns, identified during a missing period are reported effectively and in a timely manner and to work towards reducing missing periods for Young People.
Essentially, the role of the Independent Person undertaking RHIs will be to ensure the Voice of the Child is heard and they are available to discuss the child’s concerns and worries. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate the ability to work on their own initiative as well as be able to contribute to a multi-agency approach, so as to contribute towards enabling effective interventions with young people.
This role offers the chance to make a real difference by understanding why young people go missing and create safety for them to reduce further missing episodes.
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who has:
- Demonstrate the ability to work closely with people, showing an understanding of boundaries, effective relationships and a commitment to positive outcomes for children.
- Ability to organise own workload and work well under pressure
- Ability to liaise and negotiate with other services and agencies relating to young people who go missing.
- Works effectively as part of a team to achieve team and service plan objectives and targets
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an Enhanced level with Child Barred List is required for this role.
Important Dates
Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 2nd April 2026
Closing Date (Internal & External): 12th April 2026
Interview Date: To Be Confirmed
Additional Information
If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:
Seema Moules – Adolescent, Child Exploitation & Missing Team Manager
To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:
Download Job Profile (PDF Document)
Application Requirements
As part of the Safer Recruitment process, Gap Management is required for all Safeguarding roles. Please complete the Gaps in Employment grid provided (refer to the example document for guidance) and upload it under Miscellaneous Documents as part of your application.
If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.
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Why Thurrock?
Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.
Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.
This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.
Our location
Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.
We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.
Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.
Staff benefits
We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.
Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.
We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.
For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council
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