Life Coaches

Starting Salary: £34,434 progressing to £37,280 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Hours: 37.0 per week

Location: Countywide

Contract Type: Permanent

About The Team

Family is at the heart of our work in Hertfordshire. Our goal is to support children and young people in care to reunite with their families where it’s safe and in their best interests. The Family Safeguarding Children in Care (FSCIC) Phase 2 Team, part of the Family Safeguarding Service, was launched in 2022 to extend our successful model into the Children Looked After Service. Our multidisciplinary team uses Motivational Interviewing to help parents make positive changes, bringing together specialists in mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, neurodiversity, trauma, social workers, adolescent practitioners, and life coaches. We provide intensive, trauma‑informed support for young people aged 10–18 who are at risk of entering care, returning home after family breakdown, or facing exploitation and complex mental health challenges.

About The Role

We have several exciting opportunities to join our newly formed hub, bringing together the Reunification Team and Edge of Care Team. In this role, you’ll work directly with parents of children in care or at risk of entering care, helping them achieve positive change through coaching, parenting interventions, and relationship‑based practice. You’ll receive specialist training in Non‑Violent Resistance and be part of a service that values professional growth and development.

Key Responsibilities

• Work directly with children and young people (10+) and their families to achieve agreed goals through coaching, parenting interventions, and relationship‑based practice.
• Conduct weekly home visits to support progress and improve outcomes.
• Develop expertise in Non‑Violent Resistance to address challenging behaviours linked to trauma, such as aggression, self‑harm, and substance misuse.
• Deliver interventions through individual and group sessions, promoting positive relationships and de‑escalation strategies.
• Provide practical support, including housing applications, benefit claims, and establishing routines.
• Facilitate sessions that strengthen parent‑child connections and offer constructive feedback.
• Make referrals to specialist colleagues and partner agencies as needed.
• Maintain accurate case records and attend relevant meetings.
• Build strong professional relationships to ensure timely, effective support for families.
• Work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of children and families.

Working Hours

Some evening and weekend work is required within extended service hours (weekdays 9 am–10 pm, weekends 2 pm–10 pm). This typically involves working approximately one evening a week and one weekend day a month.

About You

There are no formal qualifications required for the role; you will receive Motivational Interviewing, Non‑Violent Resistance, and ARC training.

Essential

• Experience and understanding of case management, including assessment, action planning, and reviews.
• Experience of planning, delivering, and evaluating support activities for and with young people and their carers.
• Knowledge of the issues affecting young people at risk of child exploitation.
• Knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity issues.
• Knowledge of child development and adolescents, social, emotional, and mental health needs.
• Ability to engage effectively with vulnerable and challenging young people in a variety of settings and to achieve positive outcomes with them.
• Diving license and access to a vehicle.

Desirable

• Knowledge of relevant legislation and policies relating to this service user group.
• Relevant professional qualification in youth/community work, social care, health, or education.
• Previous experience of working with children and families.

Benefits

We offer a supportive, multi‑disciplinary environment that encourages professional growth, provides specialist training, and focuses on making a real difference for children, young people, and families.

Contact

For an informal discussion about the role, please email Jenna.Keen@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

Interview Date: 13th and 14th January

Disability Confidence Statement

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 requires a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving

You must 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 those whose language needs a sign language interpreter, an interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be provided.

Application Instructions

Upload your most recent CV, ensuring it is up to date with your employment history and any training or qualifications. Include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert so the panel can fully recognise your skills and abilities. A short covering paragraph may also be included to highlight your skills, knowledge, and experiences.