The Children and Families Support Worker is a full-time post working across two distinct areas of the organisation’s Children and Family Services: Family Support and Family Time.
The post holder will undertake work within each service according to the needs of the organisation and the requirements of the relevant service area.
Although the post holder will work across both departments, Family Support and Family Time are separate functions with distinct referral pathways, service users, external stakeholders and recording requirements.
1. Working Across Two Distinct Services:The post holder will work across the Family Support and Family Time services while maintaining the separation between the two functions. The post holder will be expected to:
- Work within the referral, assessment, planning and reporting arrangements applicable to the relevant service.
- Maintain separate records and documentation for Family Support and Family Time work.
- Work within the contractual requirements and service specifications applicable to each department.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries between the two service areas.
- Work with different external stakeholders and professional networks according to the requirements of each service.
- Ensure that information is shared appropriately and in accordance with confidentiality, GDPR, safeguarding and organisational requirements.
- Notify the relevant Team Leader/Manager where an actual or potential conflict of interest is identified.
- Adapt their practice according to the purpose and requirements of each service.
- Participate in supervision and management arrangements relevant to the work being undertaken.
The post holder must understand that although the role operates across both services, the two services remain operationally and professionally distinct.
2. Family Support Function:When undertaking Family Support duties, the post holder will provide practical, emotional and developmental support to children, young people, parents and carers referred through the Family Support service. Family Support referrals may relate to a range of family circumstances, including:
Parenting difficulties, Children’s behaviour and social interaction, Education and learning, Family relationships, Domestic abuse and family conflict, Bereavement and loss, Caring responsibilities, Physical or mental health, Disability and additional needs, Drug and alcohol misuse, Anti-social behaviour, Housing and homelessness, financial difficulties, Separation and divorce, Social and emotional wellbeing. Other circumstances affecting the wellbeing, development or stability of children and families. The post holder will:
- Undertake initial assessments of family needs as required by the service.
- Work with families to identify strengths, needs, risks and desired outcomes.
- Develop and contribute to appropriate support plans.
- Undertake planned home and community visits.
- Provide practical and emotional support to parents, carers and children.
- Support parents and carers to develop their parenting skills and confidence.
- Help parents understand and respond to the physical, emotional, developmental and educational needs of their children.
- Support children with learning, development, emotional wellbeing and social skills.
- Provide practical advice around routines, home management, budgeting and household organisation where appropriate.
- Coach, mentor and motivate parents and carers to engage with appropriate activities and services.
- Support families to develop strategies that reduce difficulties and prevent escalation of need.
- Signpost and refer families to appropriate statutory, voluntary and community services.
- Undertake regular reviews of progress and contribute to the evaluation of support provided.
- Identify and report safeguarding concerns or changes in circumstances in accordance with organisational procedures.
- Maintain accurate records of all Family Support activity.
- Work with relevant Social Workers, Family Support professionals and external agencies involved with the Family Support case.
3. Family Time:The post holder will work with a separate cohort of children and families referred to the Family Time service. The primary purpose is to facilitate, supervise and monitor Family Time between children and parents, siblings and/or other significant family members where this is required by care plans or other agreed arrangement. The post holder will:
- Supervise and monitor Family Time sessions in accordance with agreed plans and service requirements.
- Support children and family members before, during and after Family Time sessions where appropriate.
- Promote safe, positive and meaningful relationships between children and their family members.
- Observe and objectively record interactions between children and family members.
- Identify any concerns regarding the safety or welfare of children and report these immediately through the appropriate channels.
- Provide factual, objective feedback on Family Time sessions.
- Undertake individual work with children and/or parents were agreed by the relevant Manager/Team Lead.
- Work with families in a range of settings, including designated Family Time venues and community locations.
- Provide transport for children to and from Family Time venues.
- Work closely with the relevant Social Workers and other professionals involved in the Family Time plan.
- Contribute to reviews and meetings concerning the children and families.
- Prepare reports and other documentation as required.
- May attend court and provide factual evidence as required.
- Ensure that Family Time is delivered in accordance with the relevant contract, service specification, policies and procedures.
The post holder will be required to travel as part of their duties, including home and community visits. They must
- Hold a full, clean driving licence.
- Have access to a suitable vehicle.
- Maintain appropriate business insurance for the use of their vehicle where required.
- Comply with organisational policies relating to the transportation of children and young people.
- Ensure that all transportation is undertaken safely and appropriately.
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