Job Description

Social Care Direct Adviser
Permanent, Part Time
25,081 to 27,653 per annum (full time equivalent)
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style:
Closing Date: 21st September 2025
Come and join our very supportive Emergency Duty Service (EDS) who have an extremely important role to play within Adult and Children's Social Care for Essex. EDS provide a prompt and efficient response to service users within Adult and Children's services, carers, agencies, medical care and professionals, giving information advice, and, where appropriate, extending a package of care.
This is a part-time opportunity offering 28 hours per week, consisting of 4 x 7.5 hour shifts (30 minute break is added). A rota is available on request but is subject to change should the service require it. You will be based at our offices in Chelmsford, there is no home working available but plenty of free parking onsite.
Experience is not essential as full training for this role will be given. However, you must be able to commit to the days and hours (evenings, nights, weekends and Bank holidays, including Christmas) required.
The part time salary for this role will be from 18,980 to 20,927 per annum plus an additional 15% allowance for unsociable hours.
Benefits:

• Healthy work life balance.
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities.
• IT equipment and home-working equipment supplied.
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + choice to buy extra.
• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme.
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards.
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with LifeWorks.
• Up to 4 days per year Volunteering leave.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found here .
The Role:
Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting the development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.
The Social Care Direct Adviser provides prompt and efficient information and advice to enquiries and requests from service users, carers, agencies, medical care and professionals.
The Emergency Duty Service (EDS) provides essential cover outside of normal office hours and applicants will be required to work, evenings, nights, and weekends, including bank Holidays on a rota basis.
While the role itself does not require a car for day-to-day duties, having access to a vehicle would be an advantage due to the nature of the shift patterns. The late shift finishes at 12:30am, and although overnight shifts can be worked from home once training is complete, this is conditional (if there are any issues with home internet or connectivity, the expectation is that the individual can travel to the office immediately). Unfortunately, public transport is not a viable option at that time of night, and we do not want to have staff relying on buses at 1am. Additionally, weekend shifts begin at 7am, and the person on duty would be the only one in the office at that time. Therefore, punctuality is critical. While we understand that exceptional circumstances can arise, we need someone who can consistently meet these requirements without relying on public transport disruptions.
About You:

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent by experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Excellent typing and office based skills.
• Experience of working under pressure in a busy office environment.
• A working knowledge of standard ICT software and systems, in particular MS Word and Excel.
• Experience of using own initiative to progress work.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to deal with challenging people in a sensitive manner.
• Proven communication skills at all levels with excellent organisational skills.
• Customer service experience including answering a high volume of calls.

What will you be doing?

• Responsible for using specialist knowledge and judgement on Adult, Child and Mental Health services available in order to respond to enquiries and requests with appropriate information and advice.
• Responsible for identifying and responding to urgent or critical situations by passing referrals to the EDS Social Workers in order to ensure appropriate escalation and management of situations.
• Responsible for providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice to callers on Social Care policies and services, including eligibility criteria, and services provided by other statutory, private and voluntary agencies.
• Responsible for ensuring that all information is recorded quickly and accurately and is entered onto the appropriate database in order to ensure records are properly maintained.
• Responsible for ensuring that all information recorded complies with data recording legislation and guidance.
• Responsible for capturing data required for performance indicators in the correct format or style in order for it to be transcribed on the appropriate system.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in order to support the sharing of knowledge and new information.
• Work collaboratively as a representative of Social Care Direct on project and consultation groups in order to ensure knowledge and information is shared with colleagues.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Why Essex?
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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 . 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.
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.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
How to apply:
Start your journey as a Social Care Direct Advisor by clicking the APPLY button now!
If you are interested in finding out more about this role or require further information, we would love to hear from you. Please email: .
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 .
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.
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Additional Information:
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email
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