Title of Post: Family Worker (REF - FW2509) Reports to: Family Coordinator Accountable to: Colin Sure Start Management Committee Salary: £14.75 per hour Location: Colin Sure Start offices, Stewartstown Road, Belfast Hours: Hours of work: Monday Friday 9am 3pm, 30 hours per week SUMMARY OF ROLE Sure Start is a government health programme that provides a range of support services for parents and children under the age of four, who live in disadvantaged areas across Northern Ireland. It aims to support parents from pregnancy and to give children the best start in life. Colin Sure Start covers the wards of Colin Glen, Derriaghy, Kilwee, Poleglass and Twinbrook in outer west Belfast. The role of the Family Worker: To offer parents and carers the support they need to give their children the best start in life so that they can enjoy, achieve, be safe, be healthy, achieve economic wellbeing and make a positive contribution. To work within the Colin Sure Start Family Team to ensure that all local children and families, including those who are most disadvantaged are able to access the services they need To work closely with the Senior Management Team to develop the targeted family services provided by Colin Sure Start. To aim to reduce the need for more intensive services for families by providing support to meet their needs as early and as effectively as possible, in line with Colin Sure Starts early intervention and prevention ethos. Work as a member of the Sure Start Family Team in partnership with parents and carers to identify and achieve outcomes for families that will reduce stress and increase parental confidence. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Family Support To meet with and assess the needs of children and families who have been referred to Colin Sure Start and develop care plans in conjunction with management to provide programmes of support appropriate and targeted support To contribute to the planning and delivery of home-based and group facilitation support programmes supporting parents with a focus on positive parenting, routines, baby brain development, importance of play, weaning and child development, physical and oral health To manage a caseload of families to deliver direct programmes of support with children and families in their own home and the community to improve outcomes for vulnerable and priority groups. To establish and maintain good working relationships with all children, parents and carers. To support parents/carers in enhancing parenting skills and their understanding of childrens needs in the early years and child development. To review families needs and plans regularly with line management, in partnership with parent/carers, and other health professionals where deemed appropriate. To work to clear targets as set out in the projects business plan and with support from line manager To work collaboratively with the wider Sure Start team to ensure the home based services provided are appropriate and relevant to the families needs e.g. gaining advice from relevant statutory services and public health, and making onward referrals for support where appropriate To provide advice, information and encourage the engagement of local in Sure Start activities and to support with the promotion of Sure Start services to encourage new families to register To support parents/carers to access Colin Sure Start services and to signpost other relevant services in the community. To enable and support parents/carers to access statutory and voluntary services and facilities. Operational To develop an understanding and knowledge of the local area, including local services/facilities and support systems for families and a working knowledge of the local community profile. To gain an understanding of informal and formal networks and other ways of reaching out to the local community. To work in conjunction with the Colin Sure Start team to collect appropriate information about service provision, which can be distributed to local families to inform them about Sure Start services and other family services/support. To actively promote and maintain excellent working relationships, and work collaboratively with all staff, children, parents/carers and partner agencies to ensure fully integrated service delivery. To contribute towards the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of Colin Sure Starts services and activities, including endpoint programme evaluations, To contribute to the development of appropriate resources (e.g. leaflets, activity packs, play support resources and appropriate preparations for group delivery, activities and events). To assist with the planning, preparation and facilitation of Colin Sure Start events in collaboration with the wider Sure Start team. To contribute towards the working practices within Colin Sure Start that increase the engagement of families. General To write up reports, records and complete attendance records of all work as required for monitoring purposes using the organisations database as required. To contribute to evaluations, reports and outcomes recording as required by the organisation, as well as for external bodies when requested to do so by management. Actively promote the work of Colin Sure Start and represent the ethos and culture of the organisation in any partnerships within the community and with any voluntary and statutory agencies. Ensure confidentiality of information relating to children and their families is maintained at all times; by using accurate recording systems, adhering to all data protection, records management and confidentiality policies and procedures of the organisation. Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance new policies and good practice together with line manager Comply with all Colin Sure Start policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols and codes of conduct To be willing to provide creche or early years cover in groups at times when deemed necessary Participate in supervision, appraisal and appropriate training where required. Be willing to work flexibly to suit the needs of the community. To undertake any other relevant duties as considered appropriate by the Sure Start Coordinator or Management Committee.