Family Time Worker in Lichfield

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children who are placed in local authority foster care? As a Family Time Worker, you’ll play a critical role in supporting children in understanding their birth identity and supervising their time with birth parents. We work with very vulnerable children, so we must maintain professional relationships while managing complex family needs and behaviours. You’ll play a vital role in supporting families so they can spend quality time together. Our aim during family time is to promote a positive and meaningful time for children with their family. This could include offering support, guidance, and parenting advice or modelling positive interaction and behaviours.

Your role will be based from The Old House in Lichfield and is fixed‑term for 12 months. There is a weekend rota and you will work 1 in 4 weekends to support our families. You will also transport the children around the county and further afield.

• Facilitate therapeutic family time between children and their parents or other family members.
• Coordinate arrangements for family time for children and their parents or other family members as directed by court.
• Transport children and young people to attend family time.
• Provide parenting support and guidance during family time.
• Support the completion of accurate documentation, reports, and records in relation to children, young people, and families.
• Be available outside of traditional working patterns, including evenings and weekends, to provide support to children, families, and carers when needed.

• A minimum NVQ 3 in working with children and families or equivalent experience of working with children and families.
• Experience of direct work with children, their families, and carers in a statutory or voluntary agency that provides services to vulnerable children and their families.
• An understanding of child development and the effect of stress and trauma on child development.
• An understanding of the key pieces of policies, guidance, and legislation which govern children’s social care.
• Unrestricted use of a car and a driving licence.
• Flexible to work evenings and occasional weekends as needed.
• The ability to effectively communicate with children, their families, and carers.
• The ability to build relationships and deliver interventions to children, families, and carers.
• The ability to work effectively in conflict situations.

Previous experience in the use of IT, including Microsoft packages, would also be desirable.

Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th July.

Cherry Fowler, Family Time Lead

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities. The position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable, you should disclose details of unspent and spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.