At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families with complex needs and lead a team of Family Help staff.
- Company: Join Walsall Council's innovative Young & Thriving Hub.
- Benefits: Flexible working, professional development, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Why this job: Be a key player in improving life chances for children aged 0-5.
- Qualifications: Experience with children and families, plus strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and impact in the community.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Service: Young & Thriving Hub (0–5)
Directorate: Children’s Services
Grade: Part time 0.5 FTE G9 (Salary pro rata to hours worked)
Location: Walsall (with flexibility across Family Help localities)
About the Young & Thriving Hub
The Young & Thriving Hub is a multi‑disciplinary, co‑located service providing integrated, early help and targeted support to expectant parents, babies, and children aged 0–5 and their families. The hub brings together professionals from across Children’s Services and partner agencies to deliver trauma‑informed, relationship‑based practice that improves outcomes for children and supports families to thrive.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Family Help Senior Practitioner to play a key role within the Young & Thriving Hub. You will provide high‑quality, evidence‑based support to families with complex and varied needs, while offering professional leadership, supervision and guidance to Family Help staff. Working within a multi‑disciplinary environment, you will help ensure that children’s welfare remains central to all practice, supporting early intervention, safeguarding, and positive, sustainable change for families.
Key Responsibilities
- Supervise, support and mentor Family Help staff to ensure high‑quality, child‑centred practice and positive outcomes for children and families.
- Deliver and oversee evidence‑based interventions for families with complex needs, providing direct support where required.
- Support and quality‑assure comprehensive assessments of family strengths, needs and risks, ensuring plans are co‑produced with families and reviewed regularly.
- Act as a lead practitioner supporting families with complex needs, offering expert guidance.
- Promote effective multi‑agency working, building strong relationships with health, education, police and voluntary sector partners within the Young & Thriving Hub.
- Contribute to staff development, induction and training, embedding reflective practice and continuous learning across the service.
What We’re Looking For
- A relevant professional qualification and/or substantial experience working with children, young people and families.
- Strong experience of supervision, mentoring and practice leadership within Family Help.
- Sound knowledge of safeguarding, child development and early intervention approaches, particularly for children aged 0–5.
- Confidence working within multi‑disciplinary teams and building effective partnerships across agencies.
- A commitment to trauma‑informed, strengths‑based and relationship‑focused practice aligned with the Young & Thriving ethos.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of an innovative, integrated Young & Thriving Hub focused on prevention and improving life chances for children.
- Work within a supportive, reflective and values‑driven service that prioritises professional development.
- Make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and families at a critical stage of development.
Additional Information
- Enhanced DBS clearance required.
- The council operates flexible, customer‑focused ways of working, and the post may require working across different localities, some evening and weekend work.
Please be aware that previous applicants do not need to reapply. Closing date: 13th February 2026.
This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.
Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children and young people and vulnerable adults.
Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.
Information for Applicants
Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them.
We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting Agency applications or referrals at this time.
At Walsall Council, we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over‑reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole – particularly your Supporting Information – reflects your own voice.
Family Help Senior Practitioner - Ref: CH09125 in Walsall employer: Walsall Council
Contact Detail:
Walsall Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Help Senior Practitioner - Ref: CH09125 in Walsall
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the field of children's services. Attend local events or workshops related to family support and make sure to chat with professionals already working in the Young & Thriving Hub.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on trauma-informed practices and early intervention strategies. Be ready to share specific examples from your experience that demonstrate your ability to lead and support families with complex needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for child welfare! During interviews, express why you’re committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families. This will resonate with the values of the Young & Thriving Hub.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Walsall Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Family Help Senior Practitioner - Ref: CH09125 in Walsall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Personal and Authentic: When you're filling out your application, make sure it sounds like you! We want to hear your unique voice and experiences. Avoid over-relying on AI; let your personality shine through!
Tailor Your Supporting Information: This is your chance to show us how your skills and experiences match the job criteria. Be specific about your past roles and how they relate to the Family Help Senior Practitioner position. The more relevant, the better!
Follow the Application Instructions: Remember, we don’t accept CVs, so focus on completing the online application form thoroughly. Pay special attention to the work history and qualifications sections – they’re super important for us to get a full picture of your background.
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to submit your application via our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need right there to help you along the way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Walsall Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of a Family Help Senior Practitioner. Brush up on your knowledge of safeguarding, child development, and early intervention approaches, especially for children aged 0–5. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you’re the right fit for the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves supervising and mentoring staff, be prepared to discuss your experience in practice leadership. Think of specific examples where you’ve successfully guided a team or supported colleagues in delivering high-quality, child-centred practice. This will highlight your ability to lead within a multi-disciplinary environment.
✨Emphasise Relationship Building
The job requires effective multi-agency working, so come ready to talk about how you’ve built strong relationships with various partners in the past. Share examples of how you’ve collaborated with health, education, and voluntary sector partners to achieve positive outcomes for families.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and approach to complex family needs. Prepare by thinking through potential challenges you might encounter in the role and how you would address them, keeping the trauma-informed and strengths-based practices in mind.