At a Glance
- Tasks: Coordinate Lifelong Links for children and families, focusing on building supportive relationships.
- Company: Join Southwark Council, a leader in innovative family support services.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, remote work, and access to professional training and development.
- Other info: This is a self-employed role with ongoing recruitment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while working in a supportive, dynamic team environment.
- Qualifications: Self-motivated, adaptable, with experience in family support and strong communication skills.
Salary: £27 per hour + Expenses (Travel)
Hours: Flexible
Location: Working from home and a willingness to travel
Contract Type: Self Employed
Closing date: Ongoing
Southwark’s Lifelong Links and FGC Service
Family Group Conferences and lifelong links are at the heart of Southwark's systemic and restorative approaches to supporting children, young people, and families. Southwark has an established, yet innovative FGC Service based within our Quality Assurance department, within which our Lifelong Links service sits.
As part of our planned growth, we are continuing to expand our Lifelong Links service with support from the Department for Education and the Family Rights Group. We want to recruit passionate, creative, and skilled Lifelong Links Coordinators as we are substantially increasing the number of Lifelong Links FGCs for our Children in Care and Care Leavers.
The Role:
- You will work systemically and restoratively to develop purposeful working relationships with children, young people, their families, wider families, and their social support networks, keeping the child’s/young person’s voice at the center of the Lifelong Links intervention.
- You will work in line with the principles that underpin the Family Group Conferencing/Lifelong Links model and build effective professional relationships with colleagues across Southwark Children’s Services to deliver high-quality and effective support to strengthen social support networks for Southwark children and young people.
- We expect our Lifelong Links Coordinators to spend up to 40 hours per allocation, and for the Lifelong Links FGC to be completed within 12 to 16 weeks of allocation.
About You:
- As an Independent Lifelong Links Coordinator, you will need to be self-motivated, adaptable, dynamic, and organized, with a drive to help empower children and families to plan and make positive changes in their lives.
- You will need to be inclusive, anti-racist, and culturally sensitive, and have experience of working with families who face adversity and where there is concern about the safety and/or wellbeing of children.
- You will need to be skilled in communicating with children, young people, and their family members, be familiar with using Genograms and Ecomaps to explore family relationships, and be confident in organizing and chairing meetings as well as mediating and managing conflict.
The Benefits:
- The opportunity to work within an experienced and innovative team where reflective, relationship-based, systemic, and restorative practice is supported and encouraged.
- The unique opportunity to develop your skills in delivering Lifelong Links with the support of the Lifelong Links team in Southwark, which includes Lifelong Links social workers, a clinical practitioner, project officer, and team manager.
- Access to a 4-day systemic training course from Southwark’s Clinical Service (including 1-day on cultural Genograms).
- Access to monthly practice development meetings.
Independent Lifelong Links Coordinator employer: FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP
Daybreak is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees. With a home-based role that offers flexibility and regular travel across beautiful regions like Wiltshire and Hampshire, you will be part of a supportive work culture that values collaboration with social care teams and communities. The company provides ample opportunities for career development, ensuring that you can make a meaningful impact while advancing your skills in family services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Independent Lifelong Links Coordinator
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Independent Lifelong Links Coordinator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
