Family Help Lead Practitioner

Job Description

City of York Council are excited to invite you to apply for the role of Family Help Lead Practitioner (Social Worker) to join our Family Help service.

This is an opportunity for you to be part of a service that values high-quality relationships, reflective supervision and systemic practice, ensuring children and families receive the right support at the right time.

We are proud to be rated Outstanding by Ofsted, reflecting our strong leadership and commitment to children and families.

As we develop in line with the Families First reforms, we are investing in our workforce and creating opportunities for you to shape and influence practice.

Role Overview

As a Family Help Lead Practitioner, you will take a lead role in supporting children and families with complex needs, helping them and their networks build strength and safety so children can remain at home wherever possible.

You will work alongside multi-agency partners to deliver effective, evidence-informed interventions while modelling high-quality practice.

This role is for qualified social workers and will include holding cases across public and private proceedings, as well as contributing to permanence planning that promotes a child’s identity, stability and sense of belonging.

You will work directly with children and families, undertaking Family Help Assessments, delivering interventions and co-producing plans alongside families, their networks and professionals.

You will build strong relationships and deliver meaningful direct work that promotes sustainable change.

You will also work closely with the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team and partners across education, health and the voluntary sector, ensuring a joined-up, whole-family approach in line with the Families First reforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead support for children and families with complex needs.
• Engage in Family Help Assessments and intervention planning.
• Co‑produce plans with families, networks and professionals.
• Collaborate with Multi‑Agency Child Protection Team and education, health and voluntary partners.
• Model evidence‑informed, relational, strengths‑based practice.
• Promote safety and permanence planning for children.

Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified social worker.
• Experience working with children and families, including safeguarding.
• Strong skills in risk assessment, child development and multi‑agency working.
• Ability to lead practice, support colleagues and promote high standards.
• Additional Context

This role forms part of the implementation of the Families First reforms, which will come into effect on 1 October 2026.

A successful offer of employment will have a start date on or after this date, subject to the completion of all required pre‑employment checks, including DBS clearance.

Hybrid working arrangements are available; each role is different and working arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of the role and in collaboration with the employee.

Benefits

• Clear career pathways and strong learning and development offer.
• High-quality reflective supervision.
• Opportunity to take on leadership opportunities and progress career.
• Generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme and comprehensive health & wellbeing initiatives.
• Rewards and savings program.
• Job Share

This post is suitable as a job share opportunity.

Commitment to Safety

City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all employees to hold an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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