Most social work roles leave you drowning in paperwork, stretched across too many cases, nowhere near the young people who actually need you. This is different. We work closely with local authorities to place and support young people aged 9 to 18 with complex, serious needs - and we need a social worker who's ready to be part of a team that genuinely knows every resident's story and fights for what they need
You'll be working with young people who have lived through real trauma - abuse, exploitation, instability, the kind of experiences that leave deep marks. Some are fleeing danger and seeking safety, including young people seeking asylum. Others are struggling with their mental health, substance use, or the weight of behaviours born from everything they've been through. This isn't a clipboard job. You'll be the person who helps them see a different path forward
The homes we work with accommodate young people across the spectrum - from those with low and medium support needs right through to those with high complexity - which means you'll be part of a service that knows how to match the right young person to the right placement for their safety and stability. You'll work hand in hand with local authorities, care staff, and the young people themselves to create plans that actually work and relationships that hold
This is the kind of role where you'll see the impact of your work in real time: a young person who was at risk of sexual exploitation starting to trust again, a teenager managing their mental health with proper support in place, a child who arrived traumatised gradually feeling safe enough to be themselves. That's what keeps social workers going, and that's what you'll get here
What you will be doing
- Assess and support young people aged 9 to 18 with complex needs including trauma, mental health difficulties, exploitation risk, offending behaviour, and substance misuse issues
- Work with local authorities on planned and emergency referrals to ensure the right young person is matched to the right placement
- Build and maintain strong relationships with residents, their families, and the wider care team to understand and respond to each young person's needs
- Develop and review support plans that address safeguarding, emotional wellbeing, and life skills for young people seeking safety, including asylum seekers
- Liaise closely with schools, health services, and other agencies to coordinate holistic support for each resident
Why you will love working here
- A role where you're genuinely close to the young people you support, not lost in a sprawling caseload
- Work alongside a team of residential care staff, local authorities, and other professionals who all care deeply about getting it right
- The chance to make a real difference with some of the most vulnerable young people in the region - those with trauma, exploitation risk, mental health needs, and complex behaviour
- A service that understands you can't support others well if you're burning out yourself
Is this you?
- You're a qualified social worker with genuine experience supporting young people with serious and complex needs
- You have the stomach for hard stories and the heart to stay present with young people who've been let down before
- You work well as part of a team and you actually want to know the young people in your care - not just process them
- You're organised and can manage referrals and case work alongside the relational side of the job
- You're based in or willing to work across Essex
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.