Family Support Practitioner - Social Care – Unqualified – Suffolk County Council – IP1 2BX
3 Months Contract
37 hpw
Hybrid
Driving License Required
£19.73 - £23.37 UMB
I am currently representing Suffolk County Council are offering an initial temporary contract for a period of 3 months with a view to be extended or offered a permanent position for the right candidate at a rate which is negotiable dependent upon experience.
We are looking for Family Support Practitioner at Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX
To act as a catalyst for change working directly alongside children, young people and their families.
Hybrid - various across the county-initially needed for South Suffolk- Sudbury area, Central area- Stowmarket area, Coastal North area- Leiston and Saxmundham and West area Forest Heath area. Need to be in an office initially to support induction, shadowing or joint visiting initially.
A Family Support Practitioner works in families homes to affect positive change in families, they use practical approaches to get alongside and work with families and their networks to deliver case work. They deliver Family Time (Supervised Contact) whereby they transport children and observe parent child interactions to support a court process whilst a child has been re-moved from home.
Key Accountabilities:
Communicating and engaging with children, young people and their families, with colleagues and with communities.
Work directly with children, young people and families using the Suffolk Signs of Safety and Wellbeing framework.
Where required by the role, to act as Lead Professional for named families as directed by colleagues, being the key contact with the family and liaising with other professionals to provide a joined-up response.
Assessment, Planning and Review
Use Suffolk signs of safety principles, disciplines and tools.
Where required, to participate in CAF, multi-agency assessment, Statutory Assessment and other relevant assessment processes.
Effective Practice
To work alongside children, young people, parents and families where there are early signs of social, emotional, health or behavioural issues to bring about sustainable improvement.
Work within the service guidelines, statutory guidance and legal frameworks.
To respond to needs identified with the family by identifying and delivering evidence-based interventions as required.
To support families with complex problems where statutory intervention is required under the guidance of a Social Worker, Lead Professional or Health Colleagues as appropriate.
Engage in individual and group supervision with managers and practice leads.
Reporting and Accurate RecordingTo maintain up to date records and data using electronic devices and systems as directed and to provide reports as required.To contribute to ensuring successful completion of Quality Assurance processes within team.
Information, Advice and Signposting
To provide information and signposting for children, young people and families to relevant universal and specialist services in the local area and beyond where appropriate.
Multi-Agency and Partnership Working
* Actively build relationships and networks with other professional groups and services in the locality.
Managing Risk and Safeguarding
To identify risk and safeguarding concerns and escalate immediately where appropriate.
To undertake other tasks allocated manager or senior colleagues, in keeping with the responsibilities of the grade:
Work in accordance with the Council’s statutory responsibilities, policies and service procedures and comply with equality and diversity policies, procedures and legislation.
Maintaining customer confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act and SCC guidance.
Participate in performance appraisal and consultation with team managers as required.
Participating in training and development opportunities, in order to improve personal knowledge, skills and effectiveness.
To transport children and young people where required by job role.
To work in the homes of children and families and in a variety of other settings
The practitioner will:
Be expected to use their experience, knowledge and skills alongside CYPS guidelines in every engagement with children, young people and families to determine the level of intervention required.
Offer face to face, telephone and written support and information as appropriate to role.
Be responsible for keeping accurate and timely records of work with children, young people and families and writing relevant reports using electronic or other systems as directed.Be responsible for recognising and appropriately responding to safeguarding and risk issues.
Have access to a line manager for decisions that fall outside their delegated responsibilities.Be required to organise their own workload in discussion with manager. Identify unanticipated problems and escalate to senior colleagues.
Requirements :
Qualifications and professional memberships
Suitable practitioner level qualification at Level 3 or equivalent experience in relevant area of work.
Evidence of continuing professional development.
Values and personal qualities
Demonstrates a passion for making a positive difference for Suffolk.
Shares our WE ASPIRE Values and strives to lead by example in relation to these.
A strong commitment to fairness and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
Strives to continuously improve in everything they do, taking the initiative to learn and develop.
Brings creativity into their work through innovation and openness to change.
Collaborates well with others and offers assistance and support to colleagues
Passionate about making a positive difference for Suffolk.
Committed to listening to children and families and to working collaboratively with them to address concerns.
Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Specialist knowledge skills and experience
Demonstrates knowledge of Signs of Safety and practical understanding of solution focused approaches of intervention.
Ability to clarify risks and concerns and focus on solutions to create a climate in which change can happen.
Ability to recognise Child Protection and risk issues and alert concerns to manager.
Understanding of the early intervention and preventative agenda.
Broad knowledge of the social and emotional factors that affect a child’s capacity to learn and develop.
Understanding the diverse range of needs of clients and backgrounds
Evidence of the ability and commitment to support and motivate children, young people and their families.
Proven use of effective communication to de-escalate challenging situations and provide appropriate advice and facilitation
ensitivity to disability, sexuality, gender and ethnicity issues.
Proven ability to make constructive contribution to meetings and negotiate with a range of stakeholders, settings and contexts.
Accurate and specific information recording and record keeping skills.
Demonstrates awareness of the importance of using plain language and the ability to do so.
Experience of solution focused approaches in practice.
Relevant experience of working directly with children, young people and their families.
Evidence of collaborative work with families.
Ability to find solutions, plan and develop interventions with families.
Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and guidance as appropriate to role. (Desirable)
Knowledge of associated agencies and their working practices. (Desirable)
Awareness of a range of assessment frameworks. (Desirable)
Experience of using Suffolk Signs of Safety and Wellbeing principles, disciplines and tools. (Desirable)
Experience of group work. (Desirable)
Experience of working with children and families where there have been Safeguarding concerns. (Desirable)
Experience of working alongside parents who may have mental health, learning or physical disability or sensory impairment. (Desirable)
Experience of assessment and/or observation of the developmental needs of children. (Desirable)
Experience of working with a range of agencies and communities. (Desirable)
Additional requirements
To work in a variety of locations and client’s homes, including rural areas if required by the post.
A DBS check will be undertaken for the successful candidate.
Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
1. Willingness to undertake training as required to update knowledge andskills.
Evidence of successfully working alone as well as part of a team