The Supporting Solutions Service offers intensive interventions to children and young people who are at risk of coming into the care of the local authority. Our aim is to keep children and young people at home, in the care of their families where it is safe to do so. We also offer support to children and young people who are in the care of local authority but have a plan to return to the care of their family or those who are living with foster carers and need intensive support to prevent a further move. We are rated Outstanding for the services we provide children and young people ( Ofsted: Durham County Council ). We are looking for people who have a sound understanding of therapeutic parenting interventions and experience of delivering outcomes to children and young people and families who have experienced trauma. We are keen to hear from people who are familiar with solution focused, strengths based, motivational methods of direct work, evidencing excellent outcomes. You must be motivated in ensuring the needs of children and young people are met, proactive in keeping families together and creative in your approach to intervention. WHAT IS INVOLVED? As a Supporting Solutions Worker you will: Provide a crisis response and work flexibly with families in acute distress to help keep children and families together. The Supporting Solutions Worker will provide rapid response and intensive interventions and support to families where there is a risk of the child / young person needing to be in the care of the Local Authority. Crisis interventions will also be provided to foster carers or children and young people placed under special guardian orders to prevent breakdown and reduce the number of moves they may experience. Care for children and young people looked after in the crisis bed as required on an evening and weekends in partnership with the Emergency Duty Team. To work as part of a duty system so at the earliest opportunity where children have been looked after in the residential unit, mediation and crisis work is undertaken so that the young person is rehabilitated home with a package of support. Intervene with families at breaking point and provide mediation and a range of restorative interventions to encourage family decision making and responsibility for their children and young people by negotiating and discussing support within their family network to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. We encourage you to contact Lucy Armstrong via email at lucy.armstrong@durham.gov.uk or Clare Alderson via e-mail at Clare.Alderson@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role. WHAT WILL I NEED? You will need a Level 3 Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification and significant recent experience (i.e. within the last 12 months) of direct work with young people and their families. We particularly welcome applications from those who: Have a good understanding of child development and the impact of trauma Are Interested in child mental health Are experienced in therapeutic work Are empathic, reflective and analytical Are able to work effectively with children and their parents/carers to improve relationships Are child centred and committed to achieving better outcomes for children in care and children in need, including adopted children Highly competent in verbal and written communication skills Are resilient and work well under pressure Are able to work successfully across a number of teams and services We look forward to hearing about this in your application and interview. Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria. If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure. REWARDS AND BENEFITS We offer generous rewards and benefits that are designed to help you perform at your best: Competitive salaries and 27 days holiday per year rising to 32 days after five years continuous local government service. Option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year. Excellent work/life balance through schemes including job sharing, compressed hours and flexi-time (allowing up to 13 flexi days per year). Hybrid working (home and office working). Excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Plus, top up options - Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme and standard AVC scheme for members of the LGPS. Wellbeing Portal and access to an Employee Assist Scheme. Wide range of learning and development opportunities including professional qualifications, coaching and mentoring. Employee Benefits Portal and Lifestyle Savings Scheme (discounts across a host of major retailers). Discounted DCC gym membership. Staff networks run by staff for our staff, including Race Equality and Diversity, Disability, LGBT, Armed Forces, Carers, Menopause. Trade Union membership. A range of other salary sacrifice schemes such as car leasing. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. Take a closer look: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise that a diverse, talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services. We are committed to ensuring that our employment policies and processes are fair and equitable to all. We welcome job applications from everyone, and successful candidates are considered only on their skills and ability to do the job. As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and provide support throughout the recruitment process. Take a closer look: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26899/Equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-our-workforce INTERVIEWS Interviews will be held on 2nd and 3rd July 2025. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran. HOW TO APPLY In line with the County Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted on-line via the Northeast Jobs portal. Please use the ‘Person Specification’ section of your application form to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed. If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27 (option 2), or the Recruitment Team via email at RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk We collect personal information from you when you register with North East Jobs and make an application. Details on how we process your personal data is available in our Privacy Notice. https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/24645/Privacy-notice-human-resources/pdf/PrivacyNotice-HR.pdf PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS POST WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED WITH NORTH EAST JOBS, INCLUDING YOUR INVITE TO INTERVIEW IF YOU ARE SHORTLISTED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOTIFICATION FROM DONOTREPLY@NORTHEASTJOBS.ORG.UK AS YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. PLEASE ENSURE YOU CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL. VPRS/161