Early help practitioner massh

Early Help Practitioner (MASSH)

Grade 9 | 37 hours

Bury Council’s Early Help Service is recruiting an Early Help Practitioner to join our Multi‑Agency Safeguarding and Support Hub (MASSH).

This is a front‑door role within Early Help, operating in a fast‑paced, multi‑agency environment. The post requires practitioners who are confident in assessment, analysis, thresholds and professional decision‑making, working with children, young people and families where there are emerging or escalating concerns.

About the service

The Early Help MASSH is a core part of Bury’s early intervention and safeguarding system. Operating at the front door of Early Help, the team works closely with Children’s Social Care, Police, Health, Education and the Voluntary Sector to ensure children and families receive the right help, at the right time.

The team plays a key role in ensuring contacts and referrals are responded to proportionately, consistently and in line with Bury’s Early Help and safeguarding pathways.

About the role

As an Early Help Practitioner in MASSH, you will:

• Screen, analyse and respond to Early Help contacts and referrals
• Complete assessment to identify need, risk and protective factors
• Apply professional judgement to inform threshold and pathway decisions
• Make informed recommendations regarding Early Help interventions and support
• Engage directly with children, young people and families to clarify concerns and strengths
• Work collaboratively with multi‑agency partners
• Accurately record analysis, decision‑making and rationale in line with Bury practice standards
• Contribute to a consistent, strengths‑based and child‑focused front‑door response

This role is not a long‑term case‑holding role, and requires confidence in managing complexity, information‑sharing and competing priorities.

About you

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience working with children (0–19) and families within Early Help, safeguarding or a related service
• Experience of completing assessments, identifying needs and making informed recommendations to support children and families
• A strong understanding of Early Help, safeguarding, thresholds and consent
• The ability to analyse information from multiple sources to support proportionate decision‑making
• Confidence working within a fast‑paced environment and contributing to professional discussions
• A strengths‑based, respectful and child‑centred approach

Please note: This role may be suitable for applicants with Early Help case‑holding experience, or where the role has included completion of assessments, identifying need and making informed recommendations. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of Early Help, safeguarding and threshold decision‑making, and the ability to analyse information to support proportionate front‑door responses.

Working arrangements

The post is 37 hours per week, normally worked between 08:45 and 17:00. Occasional flexibility may be required to meet service need.

About Bury

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment may be subject to a satisfactory disclosure at the appropriate level under the Disclosure and Barring Service.