Senior Family Support Worker

1. Purpose of Role

Using professional knowledge and skills to work in partnership with other practitioner/professionals, children, young people and their families; using a common assessment to identify and where appropriate be the lead practitioner to coordinate the implementation of a multi-agency plan of intervention.

To lead and work within a multi-disciplinary and professional integrated family support and safeguarding service to provide a timely response to the needs of children, young people and their families; acting in accordance with local policies, procedures and priorities.

Establish a high standard of practice in the delivery a family support service that provides a timely response to children, young people and their families and achieves family outcomes.

To achieve good outcomes for children and families through coordination and delivery of early help work across Family Support/Think Family

To deliver evidenced based interventions to positively effect change that safeguards and promotes the welfare of children and young people.

To act as a champion in a specific practice area (e.g. domestic violence, substance misuse, disability, parenting etc.) on behalf of the team/service delivering workshops and providing advice and support where relevant.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• In accordance with policies and procedures provide a timely response to the identified needs of children and young people.
• To act as the lead professional for an allocated case load of children and families.
• Under the direction of a Practice Supervisor/Team Manager promote and use a common assessment to identify the needs children, young people and their family and lead the development of an effective multi-agency support plan.
• To be responsible for a high standard of case recording that is up to date; including use of a common database.
• To participate in and deliver training and initiatives in a specialist/champion area, ensuring both yourself and the team's knowledge is kept up to date.
• Within a context of persistent outreach effectively engage with children, young people and their families and actively promote their participation in assessments and support plans.
• To act as a Designated Safeguarding Professional (DSP) within the Family Support Service. Developing effective multi-agency partnership working with key agencies to support children and families with identified additional needs make positive changes.
• To be accountable for maintaining and improving practice and performance in line with professional developmental targets as agreed with line manager through supervision.
• To provide a consistently high standard of practice and customer care.
• To manage and prioritise a complex caseload, ensuring appropriate escalation to line manager where necessary.
• To convene, organise and chair case planning and review meetings, including acting as lead professional under a multi-agency Integrated Support Plan where appropriate.
• To attend case conference meetings sharing information and with safeguarding colleagues and partners.
• To oversee the GR3 in relation to single agency support in line with the Think family Outcomes plan.
• To complete assessments and reports to recognised / accepted professional standards and timescales.
• To actively participate in the regular collection and collation of appropriate performance management information which meets the needs of the service, including positive engagement in audit processes.
• To positively contribute within regular supervision, Appraisal Reviews, team meetings and service review / development meeting as required.
• Promote and use evidence based practice when working with children and families, for example family learning tools, graded care profile and other assessment tools, parenting programmes etc.
• To deliver a duty service for the hub on a regular basis as directed by Team manager
• To work outside normal office hours when required.
• To promote equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion in the service area.
• Actively promote the welfare and uphold the safeguarding of children and young people.

Skills and Abilities

• Able to identify issues that require escalation to line Right Help Right Time to manager and work within policies and procedures that promote and safeguard the welfare of families.
• Ability to effectively plan, chair meetings and manage a diverse workload to ensure that professional standards are consistently met
• Ability to analyse information to identify strengths and weaknesses and to develop an appropriate support plan

Essential.

Educated to GCSE standard and hold an NVQ Level 4 or equivalent in a related field.

Experience of delivering evidence based interventions with children, young people and their families.

Experience of completing an assessment of a child's needs that identifies needs and informs Intervention.

Experience of working in partnership with key statutory and non-statutory stakeholders.

Willingness to undertake relevant training in order to comply with the requirements of the post.