Early Help Key Worker

This Early Help key worker post sits in Croydon Council's Early Help service, supporting families so they avoid needing Children's Social Care. Duties centre on whole-family assessments and interventions under a Team Around the Family approach, brokering access to health, education and voluntary services, and reviewing outcome-based family plans. The role carries a mixed caseload of around 25 children, runs to 36 hours a week, and involves engaging reluctant families and managing risk through safety plans. Experience of family or adolescent work is a prerequisite.

What the job involves

• Carry out whole-family assessments and interventions using a Team Around the Family framework
• Review and manage outcome-based family plans through regular review and management oversight
• Broker families' access to community services, including health, education and third sector provision
• Support families to recognise and access support networks so they do not need Children's Social Care input
• Carry a mixed caseload of approximately 25 children and manage it to Early Help practice standards
• Engage families who are hesitant or reluctant to work with the service
• Liaise with families, management and wider services to identify risks and devise safety plans where appropriate
• Prioritise key work tasks and respond to crisis situations
• Work closely with locality management to deliver high-quality support for families

What’s required

Experience

• Proven record of building relationships, responding to crisis and delivering outcomes
• Experience of family and/or adolescent work
• Background of relationship-based work with children, young people and families
• Experience of effective decision making that improves outcomes and reduces safeguarding risk

Skills & knowledge

• Proficiency in undertaking assessments and applying a whole-family approach
• Good time management and ability to prioritise key work tasks
• Knowledge of systemic and strengths-based approaches
• Extensive knowledge of Early Help support from universal through to targeted services
• Thorough knowledge of child development research and evidence, including vulnerability and resilience, across ages from expectant parents to preparation for adulthood
• Knowledge of children's legislation, statutory services, and child protection and safeguarding thresholds

Nice to have

• Ability to flex and tailor approach to different scenarios
• Skill in building relationships with families who are hesitant to engage

What’s offered

• Regular case supervision
• Monthly mixed-locality reflective discussion groups with peer input
• Support to identify and access continuous professional development opportunities
• Access to a wide breadth of knowledge and learning

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