Job Advert 36 hours per week, 52.14 weeks per year, 14% shift allowance We are keen to employ a diverse workforce that reflects the people of Scotland. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly from groups currently under-represented, including people with disabilities, those from minority ethnic communities or from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds The Opportunity An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Family Support Worker to join our Families Together team, providing critical services that support vulnerable children to remain safely within their home and community. Using a Family Intervention approach, our team provides intensive support to families with children at imminent risk of having to live out with the family. We aim to empower families to support each other and build on their strengths to support children to remain at home. Each family support worker will work intensively and creatively with a small caseload of children/young people and their parents/carers, supporting them to improve relationships, build resilience, change negative behaviours, improve educational engagement and live successfully within the community. The work is challenging, varied and fulfilling, and the successful applicants will join a motivated and supportive team. Our Family Support Workers require to visit young people and their parents/carers at the times they most need support, which includes early morning, evenings and weekends. A rota is in place to cover the hours between 8am and 10pm on weekdays and at weekends. Family Support Workers also participate in a standby rota for evenings and weekends. Shift allowances apply for working out with council core hours. This post is considered Regulated Work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scotland Act 2007. From 28 February 2011 preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check prior to a formal offer of employment being made by West Lothian Council The Team Families Together consists of 20 Family Support Workers and welcomes experience from a range of disciplines. The team was expanded to prevent children being accommodated in a crisis and enable more flexible family led responses to the needs of West Lothian’s children. Family Group Decision making will be a key aspect of the team. A significant proportion of the team’s work involves crisis responses. The Family Support Workers will work at various locations across West Lothian, with their main base being in Broxburn.