Essex County Council
Adults Social Worker – Learning Disability & Autism
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About The Role
Adults Social Worker – Learning Disability & Autism
Permanent, Part Time
£38,487 to £51,834 per annum (FTE)
Location: Harlow, Epping & Uttlesford
Working Style: Community-based worker
This is a part-time position for 18.5 hours per week, worked over two full days and one half day. While there is flexibility around the working pattern, one of the working days must be either a Monday or Thursday to enable regular office-based working with colleagues. The pro rata’d salary range is £19,243 to £25,917 per annum.
Interviews will be held in person at Goodman House, Harlow on 20th August 2026.
We’re an adult social care service that wants to see citizens of Essex have as much choice and control over the way they live their lives as possible. We think everyone should have the chance to live a full and fulfilling life with people they love and care about, doing things that matter to them and living in a place they can call home. We’re determined that with the right support, everyone can maintain or achieve some independence and we’re proud to be working to make these ambitions a reality.
Our Social Workers work alongside people and their families and carers to help them think through what might help them get on with their lives in the way that works best for them. We do this within the framework of our statutory Care Act requirements. This means many of our conversations are framed as ‘assessments’, ‘reviews’, ‘support planning’ and ‘safeguarding’. But our aim is always to listen and understand what matters to the person and then to work with them to think through how this might be achieved.
Take a look at our short video here to get a glimpse into the role and what it’s like to be a Social Worker at Essex County Council.
About The Team
This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and experienced Social Worker to join an innovative and award-winning Learning Disability and Autism Team covering West Essex. The team strives to improve outcomes for people with learning disabilities and/or autism through the work we do.
- Working with community groups, family and carers you will ensure advocacy for people with learning disability and/or autism.
- We take a person-centred approach to practice and support adults with achieving their goals and ambitions, while also meeting their social care needs.
- This is achieved through direct work, multi-disciplinary approaches, collaboration and building local community links.
- Most notably the team hosted the learning disability festival, focusing on bringing visibility to individuals with learning disabilities, showcasing our commitment to partnership working and being creative in our roles.
Joining a Learning Disability & Autism team at Essex means you will be working in a supportive and innovative environment enabling you to develop your own ideas to make meaningful changes to the Adult's lives. The achievements with the team truly make a difference in the adults lives we work with and take a step towards changing the opportunities and outcomes for adults in our local community.
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About You
We are looking for someone who:
- Is a qualified and experienced Social Worker (post ASYE) with current Social Work England registration.
- Has a sound understanding of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding practice.
- Demonstrates strong assessment, risk management, and decision-making skills.
- Is confident working autonomously while contributing positively to a supportive team culture.
- Is committed to reflective practice, learning, and continuous professional development.
- Has experience of chairing meetings.
- Is able to develop strong relationships with partner agencies and the local community.
Our Social Worker roles involve travelling around Essex. A driving licence and car - or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means - is essential.
Sorry – we are unable to consider Newly Qualified Social Worker’s for this role, however you can register your interest for future NQSW opportunities in West Essex here.
Why Join Us?
In June 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our Adult Social Care services as “Good” with a score of 73%
“The local authority had a good structure and processes in place to enable people to be supported successfully, and support people to remain independent and live healthy lives. The workforce was passionate about supporting people to achieve these outcomes and the local authority had good knowledge of their area, the people living there and the demographics.”
You can read the full report on the CQC website here.
Our teams are busy but warm, friendly and supportive. Our fabulous team managers will help you manage your workload and develop your practice.
We take your career just as seriously as you do, and we have a continuing professional development offer that’s second to none.
We welcome diversity because it makes us grow and we’re determined to become a fully inclusive and an anti-racist organisation.
What We Offer
We’ll support you to be your best and will offer:
- Ongoing opportunities for continuing professional development
- Flexible working options
- Employee wellbeing and counselling
- Lease Car scheme
- Life assurance of three times annual salary
- Local Government Pension Scheme. View Key Facts and FAQ’s about the LGPS.
- Volunteering leave
- 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
- Employee Networks – communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC
- Payment of your Social Work England registration fees!
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For more information contact Abbie.Mollison@essex.gov.uk
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.
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.
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