At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families and children, creating positive change through assessments and tailored plans.
- Company: St Helens Borough Council, dedicated to empowering communities and supporting families.
- Benefits: Flexible working, wellbeing support, financial benefits, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusion and community transformation.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming family support services and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Professional qualification in community services and experience with children and families.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Join Us as a Family Help Worker – Be Part of Something New and Exciting in St Helens! 1 Post Available – Fixed Term for 2 Years. Based at Central Link Family Hub.
We Are St Helens Borough Council Located in the heart of the Northwest close to Liverpool, Manchester and Lancashire, St Helens is a transformational Council passionate about supporting and empowering our communities. We deliver a wide range of services for residents, families, schools, businesses, and visitors—and our skilled, dedicated workforce makes this possible. Our workplace vision and values guide everything we do. We’re proud of our culture, and we invest in our teams with excellent wellbeing support, flexible working opportunities, financial benefits, and learning and development opportunities at every career stage.
A Brand-New Role – Be Part of Families First in St Helens. This is a fantastic opportunity to be at the forefront of positive change. As we implement the Families First Model, we are excited to introduce Family Help Workers—a dynamic new role designed to strengthen early intervention, build meaningful relationships, and support long-term family resilience. Families First will bring together Early Help and Child in Need Support, creating a more integrated, responsive, and relational service for children and families across the borough. We are now recruiting four passionate, motivated Family Help Workers to help shape this new offer.
Make a Difference as a Family Help Worker. Working within Children’s Services, you’ll support children and families from pre-birth up to age 18, working directly in homes, community settings, and Family Hubs. You will take a lead practitioner role, undertaking Family Help Assessments, developing Family Help Plans, and coordinating support aligned with the Families First approach. In this role, you will:
- Carry out holistic Family Help Assessments with families experiencing a range of needs and challenges.
- Create and deliver family-centered plans that keep the voice of the child at the heart of every decision.
- Build trusting relationships with families, helping them identify strengths, overcome barriers, and achieve positive, sustainable change.
- Support families experiencing issues including domestic abuse, mental health needs, substance misuse, neglect, parenting challenges, or wider social pressures.
- Work as the Family Help Lead Practitioner, coordinating multi-agency support and advocating for families.
- Provide support in homes and community venues using evidence-based approaches.
- Maintain high-quality case records and work to safeguarding standards.
- Model positive, strengths-based practice consistent with the Families First Model.
Who Should Apply? We welcome applicants who have:
- A professional qualification within statutory or community services (essential).
- Experience working directly with children, young people, and families.
- Strong skills in assessment, planning, and delivering family support.
- Excellent communication and partnership-working skills.
- Knowledge of safeguarding, child development, and anti-oppressive practice.
If you are passionate about early help, committed to supporting families, and excited by the opportunity to shape a new way of working—we’d love to hear from you.
Additional Role Requirements: A valid driving licence and access to a car (essential), unless prevented by disability. In these cases, we welcome applicants to explain how they can meet the travel requirements with reasonable adjustments.
Be part of our journey. Be part of St Helens. Be part of strengthening families. We look forward to receiving your application.
Making a Difference: Whatever stage of your career, working in the public sector puts you at the heart of communities. Our workforce provides services to our residents day in and day out, making a positive impact on people's lives. We could not do this without the dedication, professionalism and strength of our workforce. There are so many reasons to choose to work at St Helens Council including the fantastic range of employee benefits and rewards on offer.
Roles That Matter: Full Job Description & Person Specification Documents are included with this advert. We reserve the right to close the advert early, with sufficient applications. Apply early to avoid disappointment.
Equality & Diversity: We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, who share our values, our commitment to inclusion, and who will help us on our journey to transform our organisation. The Council guarantees an interview to disabled applicants who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria for the job, as detailed on the Person Specification, and will, for qualifying disabled candidates, make reasonable adjustments within selection. All Council employees are required to abide by the ethical standards embodied by the 7 Nolan Principles.
Family Help Lead Practitioner — Flexible Working & Impact in St Helens employer: St Helens Council
St Helens Council is an excellent employer for aspiring Early Years Practitioners, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises children's learning and development. With opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to high-quality education, employees can thrive in a nurturing environment while making a meaningful impact in the community. The council's focus on collaboration with teaching staff ensures that every practitioner is equipped to succeed in their role.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Help Lead Practitioner — Flexible Working & Impact in St Helens
✨Get Involved in Local Community Projects
One of the best ways to land a temporary role in social work is to dive headfirst into local community projects. Volunteer your time or skills at local charities or community centres to not only gain experience but also to connect with professionals in the field. They might just have some insider knowledge on temporary positions that pop up!
✨Engage with Social Work Networks
Join online forums and social media groups specifically for social workers. Platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn have dedicated groups where professionals share temporary job opportunities. Being an active member can help you stay in the loop and even get recommendations from those already in the field.
✨Attend Workshops and Seminars
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences related to social work in your area. These events aren't just great for learning; they're also hotbeds for networking! You never know who might be hiring or can point you towards a temporary position while you're soaking up new skills.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website!
When you spot a role that piques your interest, especially for a temporary position, make sure to apply directly through our website! This not only shows your commitment to St Helens Council, but also gives you an edge by putting your application right in front of the hiring team. Let’s get you moving on that path to your next opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Family Help Lead Practitioner — Flexible Working & Impact in St Helens
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let's highlight why you're passionate about social work and how your values align with those of St Helens Council. Share specific experiences where you made a difference, as this field thrives on genuine motivation and connection.
Demonstrate Relevant Experience:When listing your experience, focus on any internships, volunteer roles, or temporary positions you've had in social work or related fields. Those skills are gold! Think about situations where you helped individuals or communities, and don't forget to mention any relevant certifications, like safeguarding or mental health first aid.
Keep It Concise and Relevant:Remember, for a temporary role, hiring managers want to see how you fit in and can hit the ground running. Keep your CV clear and to the point, showcasing only the experience that really matters for the role at St Helens Council. We recommend a two-page limit – make every word count!
Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability:Considering this is a temporary position, it's vital to show you can adapt to new environments quickly. In your application, highlight any past experiences where you had to adjust to different teams or roles smoothly. This shows you understand the nature of temporary work and are ready for the challenge!
How to prepare for a job interview at St Helens Council
✨Sharpen Your Empathy Skills
In social work, it's all about understanding and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Make sure to prepare some examples from your experience where you've demonstrated empathy and resilience. Practising active listening techniques can help you articulate your approach during the interview with St Helens Council.
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with key social work theories and frameworks, like the ecological systems theory or person-centred approaches. These concepts might pop up during your interview for the temporary Family Help Lead Practitioner — Flexible Working & Impact role at St Helens Council, so it's good to have a couple of insights ready to share.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, showcasing your flexibility is key. Be prepared to discuss past experiences where you quickly adapted to new environments or changing client needs, which is crucial in the dynamic world of social work.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your decision-making skills and ethical judgement. Think about how you would handle specific challenges you might face in the field. Having a clear structure for your answers will show St Helens Council that you can think critically and act effectively under pressure.
