Senior Family Help Practitioner - 37 Hours

Overview

Application Deadline: 2 October 2025

Department: Children’s Services

Location: Torbay Council

Compensation: £35,412 – £38,220 / year

Description

Job Description & Person Specification

Are you passionate about supporting children and families to thrive? Do you have the skills and dedication to work with families facing complex challenges? Torbay Council’s Children’s Services is looking for Senior Family Help Practitioners to join our Child in Need Teams and Child in Need (Additional Needs) Team.

This is your opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking, restorative local authority that puts relationships at the heart of everything we do.

Responsibilities

• Assessing and intervening under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to support children and families in need.
• Working collaboratively with families and multi-agency partners to develop and deliver tailored plans that promote safety, resilience, and positive outcomes.
• Championing restorative practice, building strong relationships with families to enable sustainable change.

You’ll be part of a team committed to delivering high-quality assessments and interventions that help children achieve safety, stability, and permanence.

What we are looking for

• Have experience working directly with children and families, especially those affected by trauma or complex circumstances.
• Are confident in managing crisis situations and committed to improving outcomes.
• Possess strong assessment and analytical skills, underpinned by evidence-based practice.
• Understand the challenges faced by hard-to-reach groups, including families affected by domestic abuse, mental health issues, exploitation, substance misuse, and SEND.
• Are organised, self-motivated, and able to manage their own caseloads within statutory timescales.

We know this is a challenging role, which is why we invest in our people. You’ll have access to ongoing training and development through the Torbay Children’s Services Learning Academy, helping you grow your skills and career.

You’ll need the ability to travel efficiently across Torbay, the South West, and occasionally the UK, and having the flexibility to work unsociable hours and embrace hybrid working is essential.

Torbay Council Children’s Services is proud to have Registered Restorative Organisation status that is focused on building trust, empowering families, and working together to create lasting change. Join us and be part of a team that’s making a real impact in the lives of children and families.

Regulated Activity

This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.

For an informal chat please contact Ellie Clark on 01803 208100 or ellie.clark@torbay.gov.uk. Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 6th October 2025. Our adverts do sometimes close early – even where there’s a published deadline – so if you’re keen, please apply as soon as possible.

Skills

Essential:

• Ability to carry out assessments, plan and deliver needs-based packages of support, balancing risk and protective factors.
• Ability to engage positively with children, young people and their parents.
• Ability to exercise individual judgement and consult where and when appropriate.
• Ability to demonstrate skills in mediation, negotiation and problem solving.
• Ability to produce and maintain accurate records and reports.

Knowledge

• Understanding of basic human needs, physical, emotional and social.
• Knowledge of Social Care legislation, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of issues facing families at risk of family breakdown.
• Knowledge of assessment frameworks.
• Understanding of the full range of activities delivered by the Authority and partners in relation to children, young people and families.

Experience & Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification working with Children and Families or significant demonstrable experience.
• GCSE pass in English at Grade C or above or equivalent.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Considerable experience working as a community care worker in a health or social care environment with children and young people.
• Experience of working with children, young people and families displaying challenging behaviour or with complex needs/vulnerabilities.