Overview

Personal Advisor – Leaving and After Care Service. Fixed Term, Full Time. Salary £31,931 to £36,423 per annum. Location: Essex. Working Style: Anywhere worker. Closing Date: 3 September 2025.

The Opportunity

This post is funded by the Department for Education (DFE) and supported by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for 12 months to provide specific interventions to aid good housing outcomes and a reduction in homelessness for young people who have exited care. The purpose of the Homelessness Personal Advisor is to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping for care leavers and to support those who are homeless to access suitable accommodation. It is a non-case holding position and work is generated through referrals from the allocated worker.

The role requires mobility throughout a wider operational area including travelling around Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings, and the ability to do so in an emergency. A driving licence and car with business use insurance or an equivalent mobility arrangement are essential.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside the allocated worker to support, facilitate and negotiate suitable accommodation across Essex County Council and attend all Leaving & After Care Team locations (Harlow, Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester).
• Provide practical, personal and emotional support to children and young people to meet assessed needs; promote health, development and wellbeing in relation to accommodation (including domestic tasks and transport where necessary).
• Support and advise care leavers in key housing-related areas to secure and sustain suitable accommodation.
• Facilitate and contribute to needs assessment, ongoing monitoring and reassessment over time.
• Identify and help young people overcome barriers to accommodation, enable informed decisions, and advocate for those who cannot self-advocate.
• Contribute to the Pathway Plan with the allocated worker to create viable responses to identified needs over time.
• Engage in a variety of delivery methods beyond direct work, including group work and drop-in sessions.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Social Care and other agencies; engage with family, community and other key stakeholders.
• Develop improved joint working between Leaving Care Services, Housing and other Local Authorities and third sector services.
• Offer consultation to Leaving and After Care staff on housing issues; develop links with Housing Officers for timely problem solving and decision making.
• Complete Quarterly Monitoring Returns to MHCLG with support from the L&AC Housing Lead; maintain records and write reports in line with Directorate policies.
• Attend meetings as required by the Line Manager (e.g., reviews, planning meetings) and stay aware of relevant information and resources to assist children, young people and their support networks.
• Keep up to date with practice developments through training and reading; act within the Essex Child Protection Guidelines.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• At least NVQ Level 3 related to children and young people.
• Experience of working with looked-after children/care leavers in a statutory setting.
• Experience collaborating with other professionals and agencies to benefit service users.
• Experience of housing issues for care-experienced young people.
• Knowledge of adolescent issues and trauma-informed practice; commitment to promoting independence and development of service users.
• Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.
• Familiarity with the Children’s Act 1989, the Children Leaving Care Act 2000 and the Children and Social Work Act 2018.

Important Notes

• The role is not a caseload-bearing position and is not the named key worker in a Child Protection case; assessment tasks are undertaken in collaboration with social work staff.
• Be mobile across Essex and beyond; driving license and car or suitable alternative mobility arrangements are essential.
• Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
• DBS checks may be required; if so, you will need to manage DBS Update Service registration.

Essex County Council is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from disabled applicants and veterans/care leavers who meet the minimum requirements. For more information, visit the Essex County Council careers page.