Senior Practitioner – Young People with Disabilities, North Essex
Secondment, Full Time
£46,574 to £56,027 per annum
Location: Colchester
Working Style: Community-based worker
Closing Date: 26th March 2026
This is a 12 month Fixed Term or Secondment Opportunity
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.
Join our dynamic team at Children and Families, where social work is not just a job, but a passion for making a positive impact in the lives of children, young people, and their families. Our service is built on a foundation of collaboration, integrity, and compassion, creating an environment where professionals thrive while promoting the development and well-being of those we serve.
This role is incredibly rewarding and impactful. As a Senior Practitioner in the Young People with Disabilities Team, you would be making a significant difference in the lives of young people with disabilities. Your responsibilities would include managing a caseload of individuals aged 16 to 25, providing assessments, advice, and support.
You would be part of a team that values systematic and strengths-based social work approaches and believes in building lasting relationships with young people and their families. Your work would involve navigating the complexities of Education, Health, and Care Plans, assisting in accommodation transitions, supporting independence, and facilitating work experience and supported employment opportunities.
The role is diverse and involves the application of key legislations relevant to social care. You would be conducting various assessments and actively participating in the implementation and review of support packages/plans.
As part of the Children and Young People with Disabilities Service, you would collaborate with various teams. As a Senior Practitioner, you would play a crucial role within the team, offering support and guidance to both new and experienced staff. Your responsibilities would also include overseeing the review of child plans.
This role is not just a job, but an opportunity to shape care plans and support packages that truly make a difference in the lives of young people with disabilities. It’s an exciting phase as the service enhances its services and embraces SEND reforms.
Skills and knowledge
· A recognised social work qualification i.e diploma, degree or masters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with Social Work England (SWE) as a registered social worker.
· Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge and Skills Statements.
· Significant experience of social work, demonstrating a comprehensive and up to date understanding of all relevant legislation, regulation and guidance (relating to the Children, Act, Care Act and Mental Capacity Act in particular).
· Experience of mentoring both social work students and newly qualified and experienced social work staff, being a subject matter expert in professional social work practice.
· Experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members and/or carers and other multi-agency professionals.
· Developing strong relationships with partners, other agencies and the local community to achieve joint objectives and offer a supportive framework for children, young people and families.
· In depth understanding of delivery of value for money interventions balanced against need.
· Proven track record of clear decision making in order to highlight and limit the potential risks associated with intervention.
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 ensure everyone matters in Everyone’s Essex . 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 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.
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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