Mental Health Co-ordinator, Kinship, post-order support team

Mental Health Co-ordinator Kinship post-order support team

PermanentPart Time 18.5 Hours Per Week

48205 to 57988 Per Annum Full Time Equivalent

Location: Countywide based inChelmsford (County Hall)

Working Style:Community-based worker

Closing Date:30th September 2026

Please note the pro-rata salary for 18.5 hours per week is 24102 to 28994 per Annum.

The role operates on a countywide basis with regular office attendance at County Hall Chelmsford and other sites as business needs required.

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 team

The Kinship post-order support team provides support to children and families with Special Guardianship Orders and Child Arrangement Orders. The focus is on family stability and positive outcomes for children and young people who live in these kinship arrangements. This is a multi-disciplinary county-wide team made up of social workers support workers permanency coordinators and mental health coordinators.

The role

The Mental Health Coordinator will provide assessment therapeutic parenting support and direct therapeutic support for children and young people who are suffering emotional and mental health difficulties. They will support colleagues in taking a trauma informed approach and will facilitate practice development in the team. They will provide workshops and training for kinship carers.

The MHC will provide clinical consultation to workers in the post-order team and in the kinship assessment service.

The successful candidate will have an accredited professional qualification and evidence of excellent skills in consultation assessment therapeutic practice and recording. Strong partnership working is essential for this role as it will operate in a multi-agency environment.

Interviews will be held in person County Hall Chelmsford Wednesday 14th October 2026.

If you would like to explore the role in more detail please contact Lize Markham on

The successful candidate will work three days per week with standard working days being Wednesday Thursday and Friday.

Accountabilities

• Provide a specialist mental health assessment and treatment service for children young people their families and carers using a range of therapeutic techniques.
• Assess children and young peoples suitability for mental health and emotional wellbeing services and take part in their planning and review processes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to offer advice support and consultation in their work with children and carers across the county.
• Initiate and support new and innovative ways of working projects and groups to engage carers children young people and their families in partnership with C&F colleagues other frontline professionals and third sector partners.
• Raise knowledge and awareness of the mental health issues and preventative strategies for kinship families across C&F colleagues.
• Maintain up-to-date records of activity on case files produce reports and give verbal presentations as required. Actively participate in case discussions professionals meetings team around the child / placement meetings Strategy Meetings and statutory reviews (as applicable).
• Build strong working relationships across the Council and with members of NHS CAMHS services other statutory organisations and voluntary agencies.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Skills Knowledge And Experience

• A degree level professional qualification in at least one of the following areas: psychology/ psychotherapy social work youth and community mental health nursing or a level four qualification in counselling.
• Evidence of significant continuing professional development and training in therapeutic work with children and families.
• Current membership of relevant professional body / association such as BACP HCPC UKCP.
• Significant experience of working directly with children parents/carers and families in a recognised model of therapeutic intervention in 1:1 dyadic and/or group interventions.
• Ability to have difficult conversations and address complex situations through reflective practice supervision and consultation.
• Evidence of capacity to work systemically with professionals and family members.
• Understanding or interest/experience working with children in care those who are care-experienced and those who live in kinship families.
• Experience of building strong partnerships which are collaborative and influential.
• Knowledge and understanding of risk safety planning and safeguarding protocols.
• Strong commitment to practising and promoting trauma-informed care.
• Experience of developing and delivering bespoke training and consultancy.
• Evidence of being a catalyst for change early in young peoples lives.

To read more about our business area please visit:Children & Families

Please look at ourNo Magic Children & Families video

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Why Essex

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents were 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 inEveryones Essex. 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 March 2026 the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes and what this may mean for this role on ourcareers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. Were 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. Were also committed to interview allveteransandcare leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once youve 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 theNolan principles including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicleor the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

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 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 joinThe Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further please

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