Family Group Conference Coordinator - Lifelong Links - Devon County Council

The aim of the Lifelong Links Co‑ordinator is to ensure that our care‑experienced children and young people up to the age of 25 have a sustainable, positive support network to help them practically and emotionally during their time in our care, and later as young adults. This approach places emphasis on creating relational stability, investing in relationships even when a young person cannot live within their immediate network right now. It is a restorative approach which recognises that strengthening relationships can help recovery from trauma and harm, decrease social isolation and increase mental well‑being.

You will join the Lifelong Links Team, co‑located with corporate parenting services, Permanence and Transition teams. You will work directly with children and young people to identify who is important to them, and who they would like to be in touch with, using techniques such as mobility mapping. You may then bring the network together at a Lifelong Links family group conference. This conference will lead to a plan created for and with the young person, which will link to their care plan.

You will build strong relationships with Social Workers, Personal Advisors, Independent Review Officers, Foster carers and others involved in corporate parenting to ensure this service reaches the children and young people who need it most. This role will require you to work with skill and creativity with young people in our care, to ensure that their views shape the work and are right for them. In addition, you will have strong interpersonal skills to run effective Lifelong Links Family Group Conference sessions where you are able to reassure and engage participants as part of the process.

Key responsibilities for this role include:

• Relational practice with children and young people.
• Promotion of Lifelong Links through booking and delivering awareness‑raising sessions.
• Working with Social Workers, Independent Reviewing Officers and Fostering colleagues to establish key professional relationships with these service areas and to identify and plan effective Lifelong Links interventions.
• Arranging and facilitating Lifelong Links Family Group Conferences with children, their families and extended networks (e.g. foster carers, teachers).
• Completing direct work with children and young people to explore and identify their family networks, which links they would like to establish and the information they would like to obtain. This will ensure they know more about their family history and will help to build their sense of identity.
• Contributing to the Project Steering Group to support and embed Lifelong Links within Children’s Services.
• Producing reports on the work of Lifelong Links and its impact for children and young people.
• Presenting examples to share evidence of impact and good practice.

Please note this role will require significant travel across Devon and some travel out of county.

DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon.

Happy to Talk Flexible Working – The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part‑time, condensed hours etc. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.