At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families by assessing needs and creating tailored support plans.
- Company: Join Luton Council, dedicated to improving community well-being and fighting poverty.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a strong pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on families' lives while working in a supportive team environment.
- Qualifications: Experience with children and families, plus an NVQ Level 3 in Child Care or equivalent.
- Other info: This role requires a criminal record disclosure; all backgrounds are welcome to apply.
The predicted salary is between 28100 - 29000 £ per year.
Overview
As a Family Support Worker with Luton Council, you will play a key role in providing tailored support to families, ensuring their well-being and helping them to overcome challenges. You will work closely with families to complete comprehensive assessments and develop family support plans that are designed to promote long-term positive outcomes.
About The Job
Salary: £33,143 – £36,363 a year
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
Your work will include direct engagement with children and families, both in the community and within their homes, ensuring that the needs of each family are met in a holistic and effective manner. You will manage risk appropriately, co-produce and co-deliver support services with partner agencies, and work collaboratively in a multi-agency environment. You will also develop and implement targeted interventions to support families in areas such as parenting, self-confidence, managing challenging behaviours, mental health, and child development.
As a key member of the team, you will champion the voice of the child, ensuring that their needs and views are heard and acted upon throughout the support process. You will also act as Lead Professional in coordinating meetings, planning interventions, and ensuring that all parties involved in the care and support of the family work cohesively towards shared goals.
You will deliver and support group and individual work programmes, such as Strengthening Families and Parenting Programmes, and work closely with both statutory and voluntary sector partners to monitor the evolving needs of families. You will regularly evaluate the progress made, ensuring families’ resilience is strengthened and that their capacity for providing consistent and nurturing care continues to improve.
Safeguarding will be a key focus of your role, ensuring the health, safety, and protection of children and young people in line with the Council\’s Safeguarding Policy. Additionally, you will support managers within the Family Wellbeing Service to meet operational objectives and deliver on plans and targets aimed at improving outcomes for families in the community.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About You
To succeed in this role, you will have demonstrable experience of working with children and families, whether in social care, educational, or healthcare settings. You will have a strong ability to collaborate effectively with professionals from both your own agency and others, building strong partnerships with mothers, fathers, carers, and young people to ensure agreed plans and actions are carried out.
You will possess the skills to assess needs in partnership with families and prepare clear, actionable plans, targets, and reports focused on the safety and well-being of children. Your experience will include working autonomously, managing your workload efficiently, and taking initiative to ensure tasks are completed to a high standard.
With guidance, you will be confident in participating in decision-making processes, particularly when issues of child protection and family support are involved. You will have a clear understanding of how discrimination impacts both service delivery and the people you work with, as well as knowledge of how deprivation and abuse affect children\’s well-being.
A solid understanding of child and human development, backed by relevant training, will be crucial to your success in this role. You will hold at least an NVQ Level 3 in Child Care or an equivalent qualification.
You will be flexible, with the ability to work evenings and weekends when necessary, and able to travel across the Borough and beyond to meet the needs of the families you support. Additionally, you will be comfortable communicating with the public, providing clear and helpful advice in fluent spoken English.
About Us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough.
Application Process
Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.
On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.
Benefits
- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
How To Apply
We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!
Our ‘How to apply\’ page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply
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Family Support Worker employer: Luton Borough Council
Contact Detail:
Luton Borough Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Luton Council's 2040 Vision and how it relates to family support. Understanding their goals will help you align your approach and demonstrate your commitment to their mission during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former Family Support Workers in Luton Council. They can provide insights into the role, the team dynamics, and what the council values most in candidates, giving you an edge in your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for scenario-based questions that may arise during the interview. Think about specific examples from your past experience where you've successfully supported families or managed challenging situations, as this will showcase your practical skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the various partner agencies that Luton Council collaborates with. Being knowledgeable about these organisations and how they contribute to family support services will show your proactive approach and readiness to work in a multi-agency environment.
We think you need these skills to ace Family Support Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience working with children and families. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to assess needs, develop support plans, and collaborate with other professionals.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that clearly outlines your passion for supporting families and your understanding of the challenges they face. Mention your qualifications, such as your NVQ Level 3 in Child Care, and how they relate to the role.
Showcase Relevant Skills: In your application, emphasise skills like risk management, communication, and the ability to work autonomously. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed similar responsibilities in previous roles.
Highlight Your Commitment to Safeguarding: Given the focus on safeguarding in this role, make sure to mention any relevant training or experience you have in child protection. Explain how you prioritise the health and safety of children in your work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Luton Borough Council
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience working with children and families. Highlight specific examples where you successfully supported families, managed risk, or collaborated with other professionals. This will demonstrate your capability and understanding of the role.
✨Understand the Role's Challenges
Familiarise yourself with the common challenges faced by families in your community. Be ready to discuss how you would approach these issues and what strategies you might implement to support families effectively.
✨Demonstrate Your Communication Skills
As a Family Support Worker, clear communication is key. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. You may be asked to explain complex concepts simply, so showcasing your ability to communicate effectively with both families and professionals is crucial.
✨Emphasise Your Commitment to Safeguarding
Safeguarding is a critical aspect of this role. Be prepared to discuss your understanding of safeguarding policies and how you would ensure the health and safety of children. Share any relevant training or experiences that highlight your commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals.