Family Support Worker - Reed : Job Details

The postholder will operate from a locality-based Early Help & Family Engagement Hub and will have the skills and experience to work with children and their families that have a range of complex needs. Families may be within a statutory arena (i.e. co-worked with Children’s Social Care) or at an Early Help Level, and without coordinated support, would be at risk of escalation into high-level statutory services. The postholder will be proficient in holding a caseload of children and families and able to effect positive change with the family to reduce risk and need.

• Experienced in the engagement of children and families, with a strong understanding of why persistence is critical when working to effect positive change.
• Understanding of the Early Help Assessment and its function as a comprehensive, consent-driven, multi-agency, early intervention support mechanism.
• Good communication skills and ability to manage own workload, knowing own limitations and when to escalate issues.
• Effective skills in building and maintaining relationships with professionals from a range of agencies.
• Experience of working with children and families in various settings.
• Strong understanding of how creating dependency can be a risk and how to avoid this.

• DBS Level: Enhanced
• Working Hours: Mainly office hours with some early/late work and occasional evening/weekend work

• Manage a caseload, assess needs, negotiate care packages, and undertake reviews.
• Act as key worker providing assistance in personal care, daily living, health, and emotional support.
• Implement and monitor care/support plans and risk assessments.
• Work in partnership to deliver consistent care packages.
• Ensure service users and carers are informed of their rights.
• Promote self-advocacy and represent service users.
• Support service users with behavioural difficulties or vulnerabilities.
• Maintain accurate records using IT systems.
• Provide support in various settings.
• Develop strong multi-agency relationships.

• Working knowledge of care planning and therapy plans
• Advocacy and commitment to service users’ rights
• Familiarity with multi-agency working
• Experience with sensitive care issues (e.g. mental health, dementia)
• Knowledge of health and safety and medicines
• Experience in needs assessments and support planning
• Caseload management skills

NQF Level 3 or equivalent experience