Family Support Worker (Scale 6)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Family Support Worker
Directorate & Section/Unit: Children’s Social Care,
Reporting to: Team Manager
Responsible for:
Salary Grade: Scale 6
DMA Management Level:
DMA Span of Control (Direct Reports):

Our People Values:

To uphold and act in accordance with Worcestershire County Council's values;

• Customer Focus – Ensure delivery of a high quality service which meet the needs of customers.
• Can Do Culture – Be proactive to achieve excellence, finding solutions and creative ways of working.
• Freedom within Boundaries - Make constructive change through cohesive decision making, ensuring services are responsive.

Purpose of job:

To support children, young people and families where there is Child In Need Plan in place. As part of the job role, you will also be working with families where children are deemed to be on the edge of Local Authority care.

Main Activities & Responsibilities:

· To carry out direct work and support children, including pre-school children, their parents and/or other relatives/carers as part of an assessment, plan or review.

· To encourage and empower parents/carers to take responsibility for meeting needs of their children.

· To develop better understanding of child development and needs within parents and carers.

· To help support the care of children and within their families through the provision of parenting support

· To work with families where there is high risk of family breakdown.

· To help keep children safe through assessment and planning processes.

· To work in partnership with other agencies as part of the 'team around the family'.

· To work flexibly based on the needs of children and families.

· To undertake work outside of normal office hours and at weekends.

· Work closely with Children and Families Social Workers as part of agreed plans for children.

· To comply with Worcestershire Children First Safeguarding policies and procedures and keep written records and produce reports.

Generic Accountabilities:

· To maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff in their development and training.

· To undertake other such duties, training and/or hours of work as may be reasonably required and which are consistent with the general level of responsibility of this job.

· To undertake health and safety duties commensurate with the job and/or as detailed in the Directorate’s Health and Safety Policy.

· The duties described in this job description must be carried out in a manner which promotes equality of opportunity, dignity and due respect for all employees and service users and is consistent with the Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy.


Contacts:

In all contacts the post holder will be required to present a good image of the Directorate and Worcestershire Children First as well as maintaining constructive relationships.

Internal: Elected Members, Directors, Group Managers, Practice Managers, Management Teams, Managers & Staff across all directorates, Project Staff, Support and other school-based staff.

External: NHS, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Healthcare Professionals, Educational Settings,
Suppliers, Statutory and Voluntary Organisations, service users, clients, customers, parents, pupils,



Additional Information:

· Worcestershire Children First reserve the right to alter the content of this job description, after consultation, to reflect changes to the job or services provided, without altering the general character or level of responsibility.

· Reasonable adjustments will be considered as required by the Equality Act.

· Family Support Workers will not be expected to take any decisions affecting the liberty of service users, the removal of an individual from home or legal action of any kind.

Author: Kevin Bryan Date: 07/07/2023

Date of grading confirmation: April 2013















PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Family Support Worker
Directorate & Section/Unit: Children, Families and Communities
Salary Grade: Scale 6


EXPERIENCE: (Of delivering outcome/objectives/service improvements etc, not just time served)

It is essential that the post holder has:

· Significant experience of working with children and their families as part of a team or with Partner Agencies.

· Experience working to improve outcomes for children and families through delivering family support activities.

· Experience of delivering parenting support/skills with adults and their children.

It is desirable that the post holder has:

· Experience and knowledge of Child Protection Procedures.

· Experience of working with babies and pre-school age children.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

It is essential that the post holder has:

· Working knowledge of Child Development.

· Knowledge of relevant legalisation, including the Children Act, and legislation relevant to the provision of education and social care services.

· High level assessment skills and the ability to use specific assessment tools in supporting children and families.

· Ability to apply mediation techniques to support conflict resolution in a family setting.

· Ability to articulate and/or model good parenting skills.

· Good observational skills.

· Ability to work in challenging situations in a range of settings which includes lone working in family homes.
· Ability to work on own initiative.

· Ability to work flexibly.

· Ability to write reports and letters of a high quality.

· Ability to manage the responsibility for own Health & Safety with regards to lone working/out of hours work.

· Information technology skills.

It is desirable that the post holder has:

· A knowledge of Microsoft 'Outlook' and Liquid Logic and other electronic casework system.

QUALIFICATIONS/TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT:

It is essential that the post holder has:

· Level of education equivalent to NVQ 3 in a relevant field (Childcare, Early Years , Social Care or other) or equivalent experience.

It is desirable that the post holder has:

· First Aid Training.

· Knowledge of equality and diversity.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

It is essential that the post holder is/has:

· Commitment to equal opportunities.

· A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)


Author: Kevin Bryan Date: 07/07/2023

Two posts. Full time - 37 hours. Worcestershire