Michelle Hayden-Pepper, director of local delivery at Essex County Council, is having a busy week. On Monday she was in the head office in Chelmsford. Yesterday she was in Harlow. Today she’s at home. “It’s incredibly varied,” she says. “I oversee children, young people and families – some of which are high-risk. I consider whether [children] should come into care, and deal with crisis work.” As well as observing social workers and overseeing about 150 members of staff, most of her job is to do with decision-making around children. “It’s a big responsibility. It’s about doing the right thing at the right time, and ultimately keeping children safe.”
Every week is different at Essex County Council. Frontline social workers do everything from visiting children and families, giving evidence in court, spending time at home writing assessments or attending child protection case conferences, to driving across the country for visits and days out with children or dealing with a family in crisis.
