Job Information
This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about improving the lives of children and families at the earliest stage to join a dynamic, skilled team within Northumberland's Family Hubs.
We are looking to recruit 2 Family Help Workers for families with children and young people aged 0-19 (25 with SEND), with a clear commitment to working inclusively with dads and male carers.
The role is based in the West Locality and will involve working in and around Hexham, Prudhoe, Ponteland, Haltwhistle and Bellingham.
We are looking for suitably qualified, responsible, and experienced self-motivated applicants, with excellent organisational, written and verbal communication skills. Whilst you will enjoy working as part of a team, you will also be able to work autonomously, make decisions and are able to manage and lead others.
In this full-time role, you will use the Signs of Safety approach with a caseload of families, often with complex issues. You will carry out Early Help Assessments using a whole family approach and provide intervention including direct work with children and young people to gather their views. You will support the family and network as the lead professional by chairing team around the family meetings and agreeing a clear plan to be followed and reviewed against positive progress.
There is an expectation for you to keep clear, concise records and be able to work to set time scales. Therefore, you will need to be highly organised and able to write effectively.
You will need excellent time management skills to hold a busy diary and be able to adapt to unexpected situations in a calm and professional manner.
In your case work, you will be responsible for supporting staff to follow NCC’s safeguarding procedures and liaising with social workers to discuss cases and escalate concerns if needed.
You will be required to be aware of and keep up to date with Family Hub services and intervention programmes across the age range and to work effectively alongside our partner agencies to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
We provide a full induction programme, regular supervision, case management and opportunities for continuous professional development. As we are committed to keeping children and young people safe, we will apply for full DBS checks. We are offering:-
- access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (or other pension scheme)
- a wide range of staff benefits including a competitive annual leave provision
- flexible working arrangements
- base for mileage and office facilities
West Locality
Based at Dene Park House, Hexham, for mileage, with travel expected to families anywhere within Northumberland's West Locality (see above) and occasionally beyond.
Essential requirements:
Minimum NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in childcare or related discipline
Knowledge of mental health, substance misuse, domestic violence and poverty and how these impact on families
Understanding of whole family approach, solution focussed practice and crisis intervention.
Understanding of safeguarding
Knowledge of impact of multiple disadvantage
Knowledge of partner agencies and their role in supporting families
Knowledge of IT systems
Knowledge of child development and child protection issues
Knowledge of parenting work
For further information, or informal discussion, please contact Lesley Lovell
07826 873390 or email lesley.lovell@northumberland.gov.uk
If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to attend interview, please email hrrecruitment@northumberland.gov.uk.
Northumberland County Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all sectors of the community. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
