Key Worker - Edge of Care Team in Reading

We're looking for dedicated and resilient Key Workers to join our developing Edge of Care Team, where you'll play a vital role in helping children remain safely with their loved ones, preventing unnecessary entry into care, supporting family reunification, and strengthening family networks. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

As a Key Worker, you'll provide intensive, hands‑on support to children, young people, and their families during times of significant challenge and change. You’ll work directly alongside families, delivering targeted interventions that address the issues placing children at risk of entering care or causing family relationships to break down. Whether you're helping parents develop new strategies, supporting young people through crisis, strengthening family relationships, or coordinating support around a family, your work will make a real and lasting difference. You’ll be part of a multi-disciplinary team that values relationship‑based practice, systemic thinking, trauma‑informed approaches, and restorative ways of working. No two days will be the same. You may be working in family homes, schools, communities, or alongside partner agencies, always adapting your approach to meet the needs of children and families.

About you

• Have significant experience working with children, young people, and families facing complex challenges.
• Understand the impact of trauma, adversity, family breakdown, and safeguarding concerns.
• Are skilled at building trusting relationships, particularly with families who may be resistant or reluctant to engage.
• Can remain calm, creative, and solution‑focused during times of crisis.
• Believe in families' ability to change and are committed to helping them achieve lasting positive outcomes.
• Have experience delivering purposeful interventions that create sustainable change.
• Thrive when working both independently and as part of a wider multi‑agency team.
• Are willing to be flexible and work where families need you, including occasional evenings and weekends.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success.

Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

• Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.
• Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency.
• Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
• Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
• Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment. A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities.
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading.
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS).
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted.
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.