Support Worker - Children and Young People with Disabilities

You will be expected to be in the office for some meetings, to collaborate with other workers and as required by business need. When you are in the office free parking spaces are provided at the office.,

• 37 hour working week. Monday to Friday and with autonomous working you will set your own meetings / manage your own diary arrangements offering a fantastic work / life balance.


• Local Authority Defined Benefit Pension Scheme. For more details please visit: https://www.essexpensionfund.co.uk/


• Use your skills to make a difference to the lives of children and families who experience difficulties and inequalities


• Work for a high performing team with great team morale and friendly, helpful, and supportive colleagues.


• Access high quality training and development to help develop your career within the child and family sector.


• Continuous Service - Joining us from another local authority? Then you could benefit from bringing your time served and benefits with you.


The role - overview:

The purpose of this role is to work within frontline Children and Young People with Disabilities (CYPWD) teams to support the delivery of effective Children's Social Work. The CYPWD team provides a comprehensive service offer to CYPWD aged 0-15 and 16+ through delivery of outcome focused; timely, targeted work.

The postholder will undertake a range of activities directly with children, young people with additional needs, complex learning and/or physical disabilities, and Autism. Support will be centred on managing behaviour, promoting communication, developing independence skills, and understanding children's wishes and feelings via direct work activities. Work will also be undertaken with parents to support them in their caring role.

The work can be complex, demanding, and emotionally challenging and the postholder is required to work with dedication and resilience.


• Significant practical experience building strong, effective relationships with children, young people, and families in times of challenge and crisis.


• Experience of using positive based behaviour management strategies.


• Experience of undertaking direct, activity-based work with children, young people, and families.


• Educated to NVQ/BTEC Level 3 or equivalent level or equivalent by experience in relevant area e.g., Domestic Abuse, Substance Misuse, Education, Mental Health, Parenting etc.


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