Job Description

Liquid Personnel are proud to be supporting Essex County Council in recruiting Children in Care Social Workers to join their West Essex (Harlow) team on a permanent basis.

This post is open to Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) and Experienced Social Workers and sits within a well-established and supportive Children in Care service that is committed to systemic, strengths-based and trauma‑informed practice.

Essex County Council offers a progressive working environment, with a strong focus on staff wellbeing, development and delivering positive outcomes for children and young people.

Your Benefits Working for Essex County Council

Essex County Council is one of the UK’s largest and most ambitious local authorities, offering stability, innovation and genuine investment in its workforce. As a permanent member of the Children in Care service, you will benefit from:

• Salary of £36,124 – £51,834 per annum
• Nine‑day working fortnight for frontline social workers
• Open to NQSWs and experienced practitioners
• ASYE support with salary progression on completion
• Strong training and development through the Essex Social Care Academy
• Supportive management with regular, high‑quality supervision
• Systemic practice model and manageable caseloads
• Flexible working arrangements and strong focus on wellbeing

Your Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of Children in Care up to the age of 18 in foster and residential placements.
• Complete care planning, court work and permanency planning, including SGOs and adoption where appropriate.
• Visit children and young people in placement and undertake meaningful direct work, including life‑story work.
• Undertake robust risk assessments and safeguarding decisions in line with statutory guidance.
• Support children and young people to progress towards permanency, including reunification where safe to do so.

For This Role You Will Need

• A recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, CQSW, CSS or equivalent).
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Experience or interest in statutory Children in Care work (NQSWs welcome).

If this sounds like it could be the right role for you then please contact Mozz Radwan on 02038573486 or Mozz.Radwan@liquidpersonnel.com

We are unable to support or accept applications from candidates who are residents within the Red or Amber list of the Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England, based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workforce Support and Safeguard List.