Early Help Key Worker

The Methodist Church in Britain; London Borough of Croydon; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Regular supervision

Reflective discussion groups

Professional development opportunities

Wide knowledge and learning resources

Job summary

The Early Help key worker position sits in Croydon Council's Early Help service, supporting families to avoid contact with Children's Social Care. The role focuses on whole-family assessments, interventions, and coordinating access to health, education and voluntary services within a Team Around the Family approach.

It carries a mixed caseload of around 25 children and runs to 36 hours per week. Experience of family or adolescent work is a prerequisite, with an emphasis on relationship-based

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build relationships with families and young people.
• Experience delivering outcomes in high-pressure situations.
• Understanding of systemic and strengths-based approaches.
• Knowledge of child development and safeguarding thresholds.

Responsibilities

• Carry out whole-family assessments and interventions using a Team Around the Family framework.
• Review and manage outcome-based family plans with oversight.
• Broker access to health, education, and third-sector services.
• Support families to access support networks to reduce Children's Social Care input.
• Carry a mixed caseload of around 25 children and manage it to Early Help standards.
• Engage families who are hesitant to work with the service.
• Identify risks with management and devise safety plans as needed.
• Prioritise key tasks and respond to crises in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with locality management to deliver high-quality support.

Skills

Relationship-based work

Time management

Assessment skills

Systemic approach

Vulnerability knowledge

Job description

This Early Help key worker post sits in Croydon Council's Early Help service, supporting families so they avoid needing Children's Social Care. Duties centre on whole-family assessments and interventions under a Team Around the Family approach, brokering access to health, education and voluntary services, and reviewing outcome-based family plans. The role carries a mixed caseload of around 25 children, runs to 36 hours a week, and involves engaging reluctant families and managing risk through safety plans. Experience of family or adolescent work is a prerequisite.

What the job involves

• Carry out whole-family assessments and interventions using a Team Around the Family framework
• Review and manage outcome-based family plans through regular review and management oversight
• Broker families' access to community services, including health, education and third sector provision
• Support families to recognise and access support networks so they do not need Children's Social Care input
• Carry a mixed caseload of approximately 25 children and manage it to Early Help practice standards
• Engage families who are hesitant or reluctant to work with the service
• Liaise with families, management and wider services to identify risks and devise safety plans where appropriate
• Prioritise key work tasks and respond to crisis situations
• Work closely with locality management to deliver high-quality support for families

What’s required

Experience

• Proven record of building relationships, responding to crisis and delivering outcomes
• Experience of family and/or adolescent work
• Background of relationship-based work with children, young people and families
• Experience of effective decision making that improves outcomes and reduces safeguarding risk

Skills & knowledge

• Proficiency in undertaking assessments and applying a whole-family approach
• Good time management and ability to prioritise key work tasks
• Knowledge of systemic and strengths-based approaches
• Extensive knowledge of Early Help support from universal through to targeted services
• Thorough knowledge of child development research and evidence, including vulnerability and resilience, across ages from expectant parents to preparation for adulthood
• Knowledge of children's legislation, statutory services, and child protection and safeguarding thresholds

Nice to have

• Ability to flex and tailor approach to different scenarios
• Skill in building relationships with families who are hesitant to engage

What’s offered

• Regular case supervision
• Monthly mixed-locality reflective discussion groups with peer input
• Support to identify and access continuous professional development opportunities
• Access to a wide breadth of knowledge and learning