Personal Adviser

Personal Adviser - Leaving and After Care
Fixed Term, Full Time
£Community-based worker
Please note that this is a Secondment / Fixed Term Contract opportunity for a period of 12 months.
It’s an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.
Children & Families
Leaving and Aftercare Teams focus on achieving the best outcomes for young people aged 16 – 25 who are in care or have left care. The teams are made up of social workers and personal advisors, mental health co-ordinators and targeted youth advisors, and they all have opportunity to undertake focused work with young people. They look to maximise the potential of young people who remain in care by working with providers, other agencies, and partners. For those who have left care, our teams continue to offer advice, information and help to enable young people to live independently – and to access education, training, and employment.
To support young people who are leaving care. To give practical, personal, and emotional support to young people to meet assessed need; This may include domestic tasks and transporting where necessary.
To specifically support and advise young people leaving care in key areas including health, benefits, education, training, employment, accommodation/housing and personal well-being.
To identify and support young people to overcome barriers to learning.
To enable and empower young people to make decisions in their lives and to self-advocate.
To advocate on behalf of young people who do not have the skills to do this.
To develop Personal Action Plans with young people.
To encourage young people not only to fully engage with developing their individual plans, but to participate in the development of the service as a whole.
To work alongside colleagues both within social services and from other agencies, and to engage with significant people in the young person’s life (members of the family, community etc).
To support young people through times of major transitions from childhood to adulthood.
To liaise with others involved to ensure that assessed needs are met within the agreed plans for the child or young person in a timely way.
To build up effective interagency networks and have an understanding of voluntary and statutory agencies as well as an awareness of opportunities within the local community.
To maintain records and write reports as required in accordance with directorate policy and procedures.
To carry out a range of practical tasks to assist young people with both planned and unplanned activities.
reviews, planning meetings etc.
To maintain an awareness of relevant information and resources that may assist children, young people, and their carers.
To keep abreast of practice developments through reading and attending training courses.
To be aware of Essex Child Protection Guidelines.
Experience of working in a supportive relationship, with young people
Experience in working creatively with in various ways young people including young parents.
Previous work experience in either a paid or voluntary capacity working with children, young people, and families.
Experience of housing, employment, and training issues for young people
A commitment to one’s own personal and professional development.
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. 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.
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. 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.
Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
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. 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.
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
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.