At a Glance
- Tasks: Support Looked After children in reconnecting with important people in their lives.
- Company: Hertfordshire County Council, dedicated to improving children's lives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, training opportunities, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Empower young people to build loving support networks for their future.
- Qualifications: Experience with children, strong communication skills, and a commitment to safeguarding.
The predicted salary is between 41771 - 41771 £ per year.
Lifelong Links has been described as a mix of the television programmes “Who do you think you are?” and “Long Lost Families”. Hertfordshire’s Lifelong Links service has been supporting Looked After children and young people to reconnect with important people since 2017. This could be family and people they already know, those they haven’t seen for a while, or relatives they’ve never met. It could also be a teacher, football coach or former foster carers. Lifelong Links can help a child to develop supportive, stable relationships during and after their time in care providing them with stability, security and a sense of belonging.
Lifelong Links is an evidenced based programme, developed by the Family Rights Group. Independent evaluations of the Lifelong Links approach have found positive outcomes for children and young people who have participated in Lifelong Links such as improved mental health and wellbeing, improved sense of identity, improved stability in their foster or residential home and a reduced risk of homelessness when they leave care. Hertfordshire’s Lifelong Links Service sits within the Family Group Conferencing Service.
Lifelong Links Coordinators will work with Looked After children and young people who have been referred to the Lifelong Links service by the Children Looked After, 0-25 and Separated Migrant Children’s Teams. Lifelong Links is child led. The role involves working directly with children and young people using tools such as mobility mapping, genograms and timelines to help them identify people who are important to them. The Lifelong Links Coordinator will have searched for these people with the aim of bringing them together with the child or young person at a Celebration Event to make a Lifelong Links Family Plan aimed at supporting the child or young person’s ongoing relationships with these important people.
About you
- Knowledge of child protection/safeguarding procedures.
- A commitment to anti-discriminatory practices in employment and service provision.
- Experience of undertaking direct work with children and young people.
- High level of computer literacy.
- Commitment to embedding innovative ways of working.
- Excellent communication, listening, liaison and negotiation skills.
- Ability to work flexible hours in line with the needs of the children and young people and their networks, including some evenings and weekends.
- Driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Willingness to travel outside of Hertfordshire; children and young people may live in foster and residential homes out of county.
- Experience of working with a child-led approach.
- Experience of working in a trauma-informed way.
- Experience and knowledge of working with cared for children and young people living in foster and residential homes.
- Using initiative and a proactive approach to progress and achieve a child or young person’s stated aims.
- Experience in working in partnership with other professionals.
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role. To help us deliver and promote our Lifelong Links service, we are recruiting Coordinators to join our friendly team. If you do not currently hold a Lifelong Links qualification, we will offer relevant training opportunities. As a Lifelong Links Coordinator, you will need to be self-motivated, dynamic, tenacious and organised. We are looking for our Lifelong Links Coordinators to have the passion to ensure that our cared for children and young people have positive and loving support networks that they can rely on into adulthood.
This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC10 job profile.
Interview Date: 19th and 20th November 2025. As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert/job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Secondment
This position is open to secondments. If you work for HCC or any other Local Authority and would like to be considered as a Secondment contract, please ensure you complete the Secondment Form as part of your application. If you do not, your application will be considered as a Fixed Term Contract only.
Additional information
- Disability Confident: We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
- Safeguarding: This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
- Driving required: You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.
- English Fluency: The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
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 Lifelong Links Coordinator
✨Get Involved in Local Community Projects
One of the best ways to land a temporary role in social work is to dive headfirst into local community projects. Volunteer your time or skills at local charities or community centres to not only gain experience but also to connect with professionals in the field. They might just have some insider knowledge on temporary positions that pop up!
✨Engage with Social Work Networks
Join online forums and social media groups specifically for social workers. Platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn have dedicated groups where professionals share temporary job opportunities. Being an active member can help you stay in the loop and even get recommendations from those already in the field.
✨Attend Workshops and Seminars
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences related to social work in your area. These events aren't just great for learning; they're also hotbeds for networking! You never know who might be hiring or can point you towards a temporary position while you're soaking up new skills.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website!
When you spot a role that piques your interest, especially for a temporary position, make sure to apply directly through our website! This not only shows your commitment to FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP, but also gives you an edge by putting your application right in front of the hiring team. Let’s get you moving on that path to your next opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Lifelong Links Coordinator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let's highlight why you're passionate about social work and how your values align with those of FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP. Share specific experiences where you made a difference, as this field thrives on genuine motivation and connection.
Demonstrate Relevant Experience:When listing your experience, focus on any internships, volunteer roles, or temporary positions you've had in social work or related fields. Those skills are gold! Think about situations where you helped individuals or communities, and don't forget to mention any relevant certifications, like safeguarding or mental health first aid.
Keep It Concise and Relevant:Remember, for a temporary role, hiring managers want to see how you fit in and can hit the ground running. Keep your CV clear and to the point, showcasing only the experience that really matters for the role at FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP. We recommend a two-page limit – make every word count!
Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability:Considering this is a temporary position, it's vital to show you can adapt to new environments quickly. In your application, highlight any past experiences where you had to adjust to different teams or roles smoothly. This shows you understand the nature of temporary work and are ready for the challenge!
How to prepare for a job interview at FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP
✨Sharpen Your Empathy Skills
In social work, it's all about understanding and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Make sure to prepare some examples from your experience where you've demonstrated empathy and resilience. Practising active listening techniques can help you articulate your approach during the interview with FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP.
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with key social work theories and frameworks, like the ecological systems theory or person-centred approaches. These concepts might pop up during your interview for the temporary Lifelong Links Coordinator role at FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP, so it's good to have a couple of insights ready to share.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, showcasing your flexibility is key. Be prepared to discuss past experiences where you quickly adapted to new environments or changing client needs, which is crucial in the dynamic world of social work.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your decision-making skills and ethical judgement. Think about how you would handle specific challenges you might face in the field. Having a clear structure for your answers will show FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP that you can think critically and act effectively under pressure.
