Early Help Family Support Worker

This is a full-time permanent position. We have an exciting opportunity to join the team at Marfleet Family Hub as Early Help Family Support Worker for children aged 0-11 years. Family Hubs provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ for families to access the information, advice and support that they need.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

To provide early, targeted support and challenge as part of an integrated approach to prevent family problems from escalating and to bring about sustainable behavioural change, increasing the resilience of the family, improving outcomes and decreasing dependency on public services. To develop and deliver a range of targeted Early Help services which will achieve and sustain positive outcomes for families across a designated geographical area of Hull, predominantly to children and young people aged 0 – 11 years and their families as part of an integrated, multi-agency Early Help Hub. To act as a Lead Practitioner for families with a range of needs, undertaking assessments and coordinating a planned response to family needs in partnership with other agencies.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people.
• To undertake early help whole family assessments and provide targeted family support for a range of families across a caseload, some of which are in or just below the social care threshold or who have been transitioned or ‘stepped down’ from the statutory system.
• To coordinate ‘team around the family’ responses to family cases in partnership with other professionals and agencies, including some families within the social care service with oversight from social care colleagues.
• To develop and coordinate the delivery and ongoing review of early help family plans in partnership with other professionals and agencies within the agreed timescales as directed.
• Develop and deliver high-quality learning and play groups, activities and events across the geographical areas which engage targeted children, young people, their families and carers.
• To carry out home visits and outreach work targeting those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable, providing support, advice and guidance to parents and carers about Early Help services available.
• Promote the entitlement to early education for 2, 3 & 4 year olds, supporting parents/carers to access their child’s free places.
• To deliver relevant training and development opportunities for families or professionals which supports improved outcomes for children, young people and families.
• To work with the Early Years Education Team, local Nurseries and Child Minders to identify appropriate packages of learning and support.
• To provide targeted parenting support either with individual families or as part of the delivery of group-based parenting courses.
• Build effective links with Jobcentre Plus, local training providers and higher education institutions to ensure parents/carers are supported to access training and employment opportunities.
• Build effective partnerships with Health colleagues to ensure an integrated approach to the delivery of services.
• Develop strong links and partnerships with partners across the geographic area including local schools, voluntary and community organisations, GP surgeries, health centres and libraries.
• Publicise the Early Help services and activities available at the Children’s Centres through leaflets and newsletters.
• Provide an advocacy service and ‘light touch’ family group conferencing representing the views and wishes of children, young people, their families and carers.
• Undertake appropriate evaluation and monitoring of all services ensuring user views are sought systematically.
• Maintain accurate case records for all individuals within a family ensuring timely updates and capturing all family outcomes.
• Act under supervision as a witness in legal proceedings concerning children.
• Personal responsibility for health & safety and that of other employees.

Benefits of Working for Hull City Council:

• A competitive salary.
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service, plus eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off.
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods.
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture.
• Great career development opportunities.

We are committed to increasing diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.