Family Support Worker – Adoption and Looked After Children – #OR111811

Job Description

Thurrock Council is recruiting a Family Support Worker to join its Adoption and CLA (Children Looked After) services, based at the Civic Offices in Grays, Essex. This is a temporary role paying £18.00–£23.43 per hour via the Prism portal, starting 31 August 2026.

Working across the Adoption and CLA Teams, you will coordinate and complete high-quality life story books for children placed for adoption and those in foster care. This involves engaging sensitively with birth families, previous foster carers, and relevant agencies to gather photographs, memories, and information that help children understand their own life journey. You will also promote and facilitate Keeping in Touch arrangements — including letterbox and direct contact — for adoptive families and their birth relatives.

Key responsibilities include undertaking direct work with children and young people to prepare them for adoption, working alongside qualified social workers, signposting birth families to appropriate services, maintaining accurate case recordings, and escalating any safeguarding concerns to the Team Manager.

Candidates should have experience of direct work with children, young people, and families, ideally within an adoption, fostering, or looked-after children context. A collaborative approach, strong communication skills, and the ability to work flexibly — including remotely — are essential.

If you have experience in children’s services and a passion for supporting children to understand their identity and history, please get in touch promptly.

What’s on offer:

* Excellent, competitive pay rates – paid weekly
* Supportive management team with approachable, experienced leaders
* A desirable location with great transport links
* A stable, well-resourced, and encouraging working environment

Why join Semester.co.uk?

* Free ongoing CPD and training opportunities to enhance your skills
* Competitive rates of pay with prompt, reliable payments through our in-house payroll
* Enhanced DBS processing included
* Dedicated, friendly consultant offering tailored support
* Access to a wide range of opportunities in your chosen location

Ready to take the next step? Click ‘Apply’ now to express your interest in this role, or explore other exciting opportunities with Semester.co.uk.