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Child and Family Support Worker - Supervised Contact Team

Employer
Essex County Council
Location
England, Essex, Basildon
Salary
£21057 - £27391 per annum + + 25 days leave & Local Gov Pension
Closing date
21 Jun 2021

Child and Family Support Worker - Supervised Contact Team South

Permanent, Full Time

£21,057 to £27,391 per annum

Location: Basildon

Closing Date: 6th June 2021

Interviews will take place on the 15th and 16th June 2021 with a planned start date of the 26th July or later.

Please note that this role is primarily office/centre based with some community, home and remote working.

Job Purpose

Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

The primary role for a child and family support worker based within the Contact Service is to supervise, support and facilitate contact primarily between children who are looked after by the local authority and their birth families. This may incorporate aspects of targeted intervention work which supports the overall assessment and case planning for the family. On occasions the post holder's role may also include work within frontline teams to support the delivery of effective children's Social Work. Child and family support workers will work in conjunction with qualified social workers to deliver bespoke pieces of targeted intervention work with the child/young person and family. This work will normally be time limited, with measurable impact and always be in accordance with the care plan, as agreed by the case holding social worker.

The post holder will undertake a range of activity directly with children, young people and families providing practical, personal and emotional support that meets the assessed needs and promotes improved health, physical, mental and social development and well-being.

The role involves working collaboratively across other frontline services, including assessment and intervention; family support and protection; children in care; fostering; and children and young people with disabilities. The work can be complex, demanding and emotionally challenging and the post holder is required to work with dedication and resilience.

Educated to Level 3 (NVQ or BTEC is desirable) or with activity based alternative experience, in a social care setting and experience of building strong effective relationships.

Service/Functional Accountabilities

  • Undertake activity & interventions as agreed by the case holding social worker, which support the plan for the child, young person & family, including supervised contact activity.
  • Build strong, effective relationships with the child, young person and family which support relationship and strengths based social work practice. Maintain high standards of professionalism which contribute to the level of confidence in ECC Children's Social Care Services.
  • Liaise and work collaboratively with internal and external professional partner agencies as relevant to the case (e.g. Occupational Therapy, Schools, Health, Mental Health), to gather accurate information that informs assessment and decisions about the plan for the child.
  • Provide information and advice in relation to involvement/accessing of third party agencies relevant to the needs of the child, young person & family (e.g. benefits agencies, immigration, housing), where necessary acting as an advocate
  • Be a source of practical advice and support, enabling the child, young person & family to build their capability to sustain change and function effectively within the community.
  • Attend meetings, reviews, case conferences and court hearings (as directed by the case holding social worker) to provide information, insight and evidence which builds a comprehensive and rounded understanding of the child's needs.
  • Responsible for highlighting issues and implementing plans to safeguard a child.
  • Record work and activity in accordance with Family Operations policies & procedures, including case records on Mosaic.
  • Work collaboratively with other Child & Family Support Workers, Social Workers and Managers to contribute to the overall work and success of the team, and to ensure improved outcomes for children.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

  • Educated to RQF Level 3 (A Level/NVQ/BTEC) or equivalent experience.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development and in-depth knowledge in relevant professional area.
  • Experience of building strong, effective relationships with children and families in times of challenge and crisis.
  • Experience of undertaking direct, activity based and group work with children and families.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the issues impacting children, young people and families, leading them to require support.
  • Knowledge of Children's Act 1989 and 2004 and other legislative and policy guidance applicable within Social Care settings.
  • Proven track record of working with partners and external agencies.
  • A certificate in First Aid and/or knowledge of Sign Language is desirable in this role.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Core working hours:

Monday to Thursday: 9am - 5:30pm

Friday 9am - 4:30pm

All staff are expected to work flexibly in accordance with service needs so occasional or ongoing evenings or weekends may be required. Hours are based on a 37 hour working week.

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