At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children and families to achieve positive change while leading a dedicated team.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation committed to family support and community wellbeing.
- Benefits: Generous leave, flexible hours, professional development, and wellness support.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for mentoring and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of families while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience with children and families, strong relationship-building skills, and a passion for positive change.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and confident practitioner to play a key role within the Family Help Team, working directly alongside children, young people and families to support positive change. As a Family Help Lead Practitioner, you will combine direct practice with practice leadership, helping to shape the quality of support delivered across the team. You will work closely with Social Workers and partner agencies, bringing people together around the needs of each child and family and ensuring that support is coordinated and joined up. You will also contribute to reflective discussions and practice development, helping colleagues think through complex situations and identify effective approaches.
Key responsibilities include:
- Working directly with children, young people and families, building trusting relationships and supporting them to identify and achieve positive change.
- Leading and coordinating Family Help plans, ensuring support is purposeful, strengths-based and focused on improving outcomes.
- Providing practice leadership to colleagues, sharing knowledge and experience and offering guidance on complex situations.
- Working closely with Social Workers and partner agencies to ensure support is coordinated and joined up.
- Promoting high-quality Family Help practice, contributing to reflective discussions and continuous improvement across the team.
About you
We are looking for an experienced practitioner who is passionate about working alongside children, young people and families, and who believes that families can make positive changes when they are given the right support. You will bring a strong understanding of strengths-based and relationship-focused practice, along with the confidence to both support families and influence colleagues.
The ideal candidate will:
- Have experience of working with children, young people and families, ideally within Family Help, Early Help, family support, youth work or a relevant setting.
- Have a strong understanding of strengths-based and relationship-focused practice.
- Have a clear understanding of safeguarding and the importance of keeping children’s voices and experiences central to practice.
- Be able to build trusting relationships whilst providing appropriate challenge in complex circumstances.
- Be confident working with a range of professionals and agencies to develop practical, achievable plans.
- Have the confidence to support, guide and influence colleagues as a Lead Practitioner.
- Be reflective, curious and open to new ways of working, remaining calm and solution-focused under pressure.
- Desirably have experience of providing practice support, mentoring or coaching to colleagues, working within a multi-disciplinary Family Help service, or using evidence-informed approaches.
This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
About Sutton
Sutton combines a high quality of life, green and spacious, with distinctive town centres providing access to jobs and culture the capital has to offer. Ofsted rated us as ‘Good’, with 'Outstanding' leadership, in December 2021. However, we have not rested but continue to strive to do more for families, strengthen practice and bring innovative ways of working across our systems.
Our offer to you
As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across - however big or small - will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team. In addition, we offer a modern and flexible working environment for our staff, supported by our IT infrastructure, including Google Chromebooks and Google Apps. Employees have access to a wide range of benefits, some of which include:
- Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply).
- Flexi-time (Please note, this applies to roles at grades 1-9 only).
- Comprehensive learning and development programme.
- Local and national discounts for shopping, eating out and leisure activities.
- Interest free season ticket loans.
- Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme.
- Free eye tests and contribution towards glasses.
- Confidential wellbeing and counseling support.
- Subsidised gym membership.
Family Help Lead Practitioner - Family Help Team in London employer: London Social Work for Children
Haringey Council is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions diversity and community engagement. With a strong commitment to professional development through the Haringey Academy and access to clinical support, social workers are empowered to make meaningful impacts in the lives of children and families. Located in the dynamic borough of Haringey, employees benefit from a supportive environment, competitive remuneration, and the opportunity to be part of a transformative journey towards excellence in children's services.
Contact Details:
London Social Work for Children Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Help Lead Practitioner - Family Help Team in London
✨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 London Social Work for Children.
✨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 London Social Work for Children!
✨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 London Social Work for Children, 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 London Social Work for Children 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 Family Help Lead Practitioner - Family Help Team in London
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 London Social Work for Children:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to London Social Work for Children! 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 London Social Work for Children
✨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.
