Family Help Senior Practitioner- Ref: CH06725 in Walsall

Walsall is proud to be a 'Families First for Children' Pathfinder, leading the way nationally in innovative approaches to family support. As a Pathfinder, we are at the forefront of designing and delivering services that champion the needs of children and their families, setting a benchmark for best practice across the country. Our commitment is particularly evident in our targeted investment in supporting new and expectant parents, as well as those with pre-school age children. As a partnership, we recognise that parents may face a range of specific needs, and our approach is tailored to provide the right support for each family.

For parents requiring extra help, we work across the partnership from Family Hubs to Safeguarding and the offer includes:

• Specialist guidance during pregnancy - Support for expectant parents to prepare for birth, understand infant care, and manage changes in family dynamics.
• Practical workshops for early parenthood - Sessions focused on building parenting skills, promoting emotional wellbeing, and strengthening resilience, especially for those who may be struggling with confidence or facing mental health challenges.
• Attachment and bonding programmes - Targeted interventions to help parents nurture secure relationships with their children, supporting those who may have experienced trauma, isolation, or difficulties forming healthy attachments.
• Tailored support for vulnerable parents - Individualised help for parents dealing with complex circumstances, such as financial hardship, housing instability, or additional learning needs, ensuring access to resources and guidance to overcome barriers.
• Early child development initiatives - Advice and activities to foster children's cognitive, social, and physical development, with extra support for parents who need guidance on milestones or strategies for supporting children with special educational needs.

Through these efforts, Walsall is ensuring every child has the best start in life, and every parent, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to flourish together as a family.

Are you passionate about supporting children, young people, and families to achieve positive outcomes? Walsall Council is seeking a dedicated Family Help Senior Practitioner to join our Young & Thriving team. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead, supervise, and inspire a team delivering high-quality, child-centred support services.

Closing date: 21st November 2025

This post is covered by the Government's Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English. Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people, and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment.

We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children and young people and vulnerable adults.

Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied, or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.

Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities, and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting Agency applications or referrals at this time.

Walsall Council's Children's Services are the only Ofsted 'Outstanding' local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council's journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities, and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children's services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.