Job Description

Children and Families Advisor

Permanent, Full Time

£26,284 to £33,256 per annum

Location: Colchester

Working Style: Fixed-base worker

Closing Date: 11th August 2026

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must
have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.

As an advisor you will support the SEND Senior Practitioner to provide social care advice for the children and young people going through EHC needs assessments not known or currently open to social care. In addition, analyse the limited information provided in the request from SEND operations, gather additional information as required, using this to signpost and provide advice to children and young people.

You will Identify any unmet carers needs (including the need for a carers assessment) or a requirement for services at level 2 or 3 and provide any advice or support needed to access this. Advisors work alongside the SEND Development Officer and SEND Senior Practitioner to promote SEND practice and raise awareness of education and health roles and responsibilities within the EHC process amongst the Children and Families Hub staff.

Accountabilities

• Meet the statutory timeframe for providing high quality social care advice for EHC NA.
• Triage the requests for advice for EHC NA for CYP not open to social care. Identifying any children or young people who may require support from early help, family solutions or social care and passing on appropriate contacts.
• Work within the statutory legal framework, policy and guidance and determining when the threshold for early help/ statutory intervention has been reached.
• Maintain accurate and timely data as required.
• Identify safeguarding concerns and seek further advice to ensure these are appropriately responded to.
• Work with partners from education, health, and voluntary agencies to ensure children and young people with SEND have the best possible outcomes.
• Establish effective working relationships with a wide range of partners and other organisations.
• Attend meetings or events that promote the development of social care SEND practice.
• Maintain and collate relevant performance and outcomes data of SEND activity within the children and Families Hub to inform service developments and improvements.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• A knowledge and understanding of current national and local safeguarding legislation and procedures including the Effective Support for Children and Families in Essex guidance and the Children`s Act.
• High level of inter-personal, negotiation and communication skills, engaging at appropriate levels with a variety of audiences.
• Confidence and working experience of IT systems including using a range of recording systems.
• Some experience of SEND, and an understanding of relevant legislation, regulations, and guidance.
• An ability to develop relationships with colleagues from a range of agencies and the local community to achieve joint objectives and offer a supportive framework for children and young people with SEND and their families.
• An understanding of the complexity of SEND delivery, ensuring intervention is at the right time, level, and place.
• A knowledge of the range of services available at different levels of the Effective Support Document as well as knowledge of safeguarding.

This vacancy can accommodate a newly qualified social worker.

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 March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been 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.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

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 ami.fosker@essex.gov.uk

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