Early Help Family Support Worker in Kingston upon Hull

Hours of Work: 37

Hiring Manager: Duncan Lawman 01482 613878 x3878

Job Description Summary: 2 Full time permanent positions. DBS Disclosure: If the postholder requires a Standard or Enhanced DBS disclosure, the candidate is required to declare full details of everything on their criminal record unless the conviction/s and/or caution/s are considered “protected” in line with filtering rules for DBS checks.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

To provide early, targeted support and challenge as part of an integrated approach to prevent family problems from escalating and to bring about sustainable behavioural change, increasing the resilience of the family, improving outcomes and decreasing dependency on public services. To develop and deliver a range of targeted Early Help services which will achieve and sustain positive outcomes for families across a designated geographical area of Hull, predominantly to children and young people 0 – 11 years and their families as part of an integrated, multi‑agency Early Help Hub. To act as a Lead Practitioner for families with a range of needs, undertaking assessments and coordinating a planned response to family needs in partnership with other agencies.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people.
• To undertake early help whole family assessments and provide targeted family support for a range of families across a caseload some of which are in or just below the social care threshold or who have been transitioned or ‘stepped down’ from the statutory system.
• To coordinate ‘team around the family’ responses to family cases in partnership with other professionals and agencies, including some families within the social care service with oversight from social care colleagues.
• To develop and coordinate the delivery and ongoing review of early help family plans in partnership with other professionals and agencies within the agreed timescales as directed.
• Develop and deliver high quality learning and play groups, activities and events across the geographical areas which engage targeted children, young people, their families and carers.
• To carry out home visits and outreach work targeting those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable, which provide support, advice and guidance to parents and carers about Early Help services available including those delivered in Children’s Centres, by partner agencies and in the local community to encourage active participation and involvement in local services.
• Promote the entitlement to early education for 2, 3, 4 year olds, supporting parents/carers to access their child’s free places.
• To deliver relevant training and development opportunities for families or professionals which supports improved outcomes for children, young people and families.
• To work with the Early Years Education Team, local Nurseries and Child Minders to identify appropriate packages of learning and support; including delivering home learning; speech, language and communication support; stay and play sessions and transition into nursery provision, completing and returning relevant data as appropriate following observation and assessment.
• To provide targeted parenting support either with individual families or as part of the delivery of group based parenting courses.
• Build effective links with Jobcentre Plus, local training providers and higher education institutions to ensure parents/carers are supported to access training and employment opportunities to increase skills and employability.
• Build effective partnerships with Health colleagues (particularly Midwives, Health Visitors and School Nurses) in the area to ensure an integrated approach to the delivery of services (eg. Breastfeeding support, infant feeding, speech and language, safe sleep) across the locality in order to improve health outcomes for children, young people, their families and carers.
• Develop strong links and partnerships with partners across the geographic area including local schools, voluntary and community organisations, GP surgeries, health centres and libraries to ensure that they understand the role of the Early Help Hubs and Children’s Centres helping to ensure that all families, particularly those who are most vulnerable access the support services they need.
• Publicise the Early Help services and activities available at the Children’s Centres through leaflets and newsletters to ensure all agencies, children, young people, their families and carers are well informed of the range of activities offered to improve access to services.
• Provide an advocacy service and ‘light touch’ family group conferencing representing the views and wishes of children, young people, their families and carers who may find it difficult to speak up for themselves enabling them to take more responsibility and control for the decisions which affect their lives.
• Undertake appropriate evaluation and monitoring of all services ensuring user views are sought systematically and this is used to influence and shape future service delivery and continuous service improvement.
• Maintain accurate case records for all individuals within a family ensuring timely update and capturing all family outcomes utilising the relevant ICT systems as directed and in compliance with data protection legislation.
• Act under supervision as a witness in legal proceedings concerning children.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated legislation places responsibilities for health and safety on Hull City Council, as your employer and you as an employee of the council. In addition to the Councils overall duties, the post holder has personal responsibility for their own health safety and that of other employees; additional and more specific responsibilities are identified in the Council’s Corporate HS policy.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation Grades: GRADES 6. Pay Ranges: £29,540.00 - £32,061.00

Benefits of Working at Hull City Council

• A competitive salary.
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period.
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods.
• Supportive and forward‑thinking culture.
• Great career development opportunities.

E-EO and Support Statements

We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.