Link Worker - Kinship Support

Link Worker - Kinship Support

Stockton-on-Tees Full-Time 25000 - 35000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support kinship families and children, providing guidance and facilitating peer support.
  • Company: Join Stockton On Tees Borough Council, dedicated to improving lives through kinship care.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and employee discounts.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while developing your skills in a supportive team.
  • Qualifications: Experience with children and families, excellent communication, and relationship-building skills required.
  • Other info: Flexible working hours, including weekends, to meet the needs of kinship carers.

The predicted salary is between 25000 - 35000 £ per year.

  • Are you passionate about supporting children, young people and their kinship families?
  • Do you want a new challenge and opportunity within a developing service?
  • Can you give kinship carers the support to develop their skills and resilience to enable them to offer safe, secure and stable care.

Look no further! We have an exciting and rewarding opportunity to join our Kinship Team as a Link Worker here at Stockton On Tees Borough Council.

This is a new and exciting opportunity to be part of the development of Stockton Borough Council\’s Kinship support offer.

The Kinship Team will strive to support children remaining in their family network. We recognise the positive impact that placing children in Kinship care can have on their overall wellbeing and outcomes. As a Link Worker Kinship Support you will offer direct support to kinship carers, including out of hours and on a weekend, offering advice and guidance in respect of parenting children and young people who have experienced trauma, in order to promote stability of placement. Support will include targeted pieces of work to support individual kinship carers to manage when challenges arise, contributing to assessments of need, arranging and facilitating peer support groups and events for kinship families as well as signposting to other services.

The successful candidate will be joining the Kinship Team, within the Family Placement Service and will work alongside social workers across the service. This is an exciting time to join the team as we move towards the development of a service, which will provide consistency, training and support for both foster carers and kinship carers, enabling children and young people to experience permanence and stability within their network.

We are a dedicated team, passionate about improving the lives of our children and young people and ensuring kinship carers get the support and recognition they deserve.

The successful candidate will have good knowledge of kinship care and the rewards and challenges of caring for children who have experienced trauma. They should have significant experience of working with children and families and be able to work in partnership with families during times of crisis as well as to develop and maintain positive working relationships in the longer term.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate excellent communication, relationship building and organisational skills and be able to work under their own initiative as well as part of a team.

For more detailed information about the role, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification included in the Supporting Documents section.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council prides itself on being a great place to work where staff are trusted, valued and supported to make a positive contribution at work.

We offer an excellent total reward package, including:

  • A competitive salary of up to £32,654
  • 27 days annual leave per year rising to 32 with 5 years’ service (plus bank holidays). Ability to purchase additional leave is also available.
  • Generous Pension Scheme through the LGPS with ability to pay extra and plan for retirement.
  • Access to a number of other employee benefits including learning & development opportunities, a car lease scheme, discounts at high street and online retailers, an employee assistance programme and physiotherapy services

For more information about working for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, please visit the Careers section on our website:

https://www.stockton.gov.uk/careers

If you would like an informal discussion about the post, please contact Diana Magaya, Team Manager, Kinship Team via email at diana.magaya@stockton.gov.uk or by telephone on 01642 527862.

Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered with North East Jobs, including your invite to interview if you are short-listed. Please check your email after the closing date for notification from ‘DONOTREPLY@NORTHEASTJOBS.ORG.UK’. All communication will also appear in the ‘My Messages’ section of your North East Jobs account. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Link Worker - Kinship Support employer: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to supporting its staff and the community. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, we offer a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and a robust pension scheme, alongside numerous professional development opportunities. Our collaborative work culture fosters trust and recognition, making it an ideal environment for those passionate about making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families.
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Contact Detail:

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Link Worker - Kinship Support

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the principles of kinship care and the specific challenges faced by kinship families. This knowledge will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your passion for supporting these families.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the field of social work and kinship support. Attend relevant workshops or seminars to meet people who can provide insights into the role and potentially refer you to opportunities within the Kinship Team.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss real-life scenarios where you've successfully supported children or families in crisis. Highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to build relationships, as these are crucial for the Link Worker role.

✨Tip Number 4

Reach out to Diana Magaya, the Team Manager, for an informal chat about the position. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also gives you a chance to ask questions that can help you tailor your approach when applying.

We think you need these skills to ace Link Worker - Kinship Support

Knowledge of Kinship Care
Experience working with children and families
Trauma-Informed Care
Communication Skills
Relationship Building
Organisational Skills
Ability to work under own initiative
Team Collaboration
Problem-Solving Skills
Empathy and Compassion
Assessment and Evaluation Skills
Facilitation of Support Groups
Signposting to Services
Flexibility in Working Hours

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description and person specification. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills for the Link Worker - Kinship Support position to tailor your application accordingly.

Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience working with children and families, particularly in kinship care or similar settings. Provide specific examples of how you've supported individuals facing challenges, especially those who have experienced trauma.

Showcase Communication Skills: Since excellent communication and relationship-building skills are crucial for this role, include examples in your application that demonstrate your ability to build positive relationships with families and work collaboratively with other professionals.

Personalise Your Cover Letter: Craft a compelling cover letter that reflects your passion for supporting kinship families. Mention why you are interested in this specific role at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and how your values align with their mission to improve the lives of children and young people.

How to prepare for a job interview at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

✨Show Your Passion for Kinship Care

Make sure to express your genuine passion for supporting children and kinship families during the interview. Share personal experiences or insights that highlight your commitment to improving the lives of those in kinship care.

✨Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care

Be prepared to discuss your understanding of trauma-informed care and how it applies to working with children who have experienced trauma. Provide examples of how you've successfully supported families in similar situations.

✨Highlight Your Communication Skills

Since the role requires excellent communication and relationship-building skills, be ready to showcase specific instances where you effectively communicated with families or collaborated with other professionals to achieve positive outcomes.

✨Prepare Questions About the Team and Service Development

Show your interest in the role by preparing thoughtful questions about the Kinship Team and the development of the service. This demonstrates your eagerness to contribute to the team's goals and your proactive approach to understanding the organisation.

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