Early Help Practitioner

Bury Council; Radcliffe; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Regular supervision

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Bury Council is seeking two Early Help Practitioners to join the Targeted Early Help Locality Team. You will handle a caseload of families with diverse needs, delivering targeted early help and working closely with schools, social care and health professionals to improve outcomes.

You will conduct whole-family assessments, co-produce SMART plans and deliver interventions, including parenting support, while maintaining strong safeguarding practices and multi-agency collaboration.

Qualifications

• Significant experience working with vulnerable children, young people and families
• Good understanding of safeguarding, thresholds, and the continuum of need
• Knowledge of child development, attachment, and impact of adversity (including ACEs)
• Experience of assessment, planning, and delivering interventions in a multi-agency context
• Commitment to empowering families to make and sustain positive change

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of families, providing targeted early help intervention
• Complete whole-family Early Help Assessments using evidence-based tools
• Work directly with children, young people and families through home visits and other settings
• Co-produce SMART outcome-focused plans with families and partner agencies
• Deliver practical and evidence-based interventions, including direct work and parenting support
• Lead and coordinate Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings and multi-agency reviews
• Ensure the voice of the child is central to all assessments, plans and interventions
• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality case recording in line with service standards
• Promote and support parenting capacity and positive family relationships
• Work collaboratively with partners to ensure appropriate support and clear step-up/step-down decisions

Skills

Building relationships

Safeguarding knowledge

Engaging resistant families

Caseload management

Team collaboration

Education

Level 3 qualification

Job description

Early Help Practitioner

1 x Full-Time (37 hours) - 12 Month Fixed Term

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Targeted Early Help Locality Team in Bury.

We are looking for two enthusiastic and committed Early Help Practitioners to work with children, young people (0-19) and families who require coordinated, targeted support. You will play a vital role in improving outcomes for families experiencing a range of complex needs by delivering high-quality, strength-based interventions.

This is a rewarding but demanding role where your work will have a direct impact on children's lives. You will manage your own caseload, working both independently and as part of a supportive team.

What it's like working in our team

We are a dedicated, fast-paced service working across locality areas. We work closely with:

• Schools and education services
• Children's Social Care
• Health professionals (including Health Visitors and School Nurses)
• Voluntary and community sector partners

Our team is committed to delivering the right help at the right time, ensuring families receive coordinated and effective support.

You will be supported through regular supervision, training, and opportunities to develop your practice within a strong team culture that values reflection, learning and continuous improvement.

About you

We are looking for practitioners who are:

• Passionate about working with children and families
• Skilled in building relationships and engaging resistant families
• Confident in working both independently and as part of a team
• Resilient and able to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment

You will have:

• Significant experience working with vulnerable children, young people and families
• A good understanding of safeguarding, thresholds, and the continuum of need
• Knowledge of child development, attachment, and the impact of adversity (including ACEs)
• Experience of assessment, planning, and delivering interventions in a multi-agency context
• A commitment to empowering families to make and sustain positive change

A Level 3 qualification (or above) in a relevant field is essential.

Key responsibilities

As an Early Help Practitioner, you will:

• Manage a caseload of families, providing targeted early help intervention
• Complete whole-family Early Help Assessments using evidence-based tools
• Work directly with children, young people and families through home visits and other settings
• Co-produce SMART outcome-focused plans with families and partner agencies
• Deliver practical and evidence-based interventions, including direct work and parenting support
• Lead and coordinate Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings and multi-agency reviews
• Ensure the voice of the child is central to all assessments, plans and interventions
• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality case recording in line with service standards
• Promote and support parenting capacity and positive family relationships
• Work collaboratively with partners to ensure appropriate support and clear step-up/step-down decisions

Working patterns

• 37 hours per week (full time)
• Core hours are typically 8:45am - 5:00pm
• You will be required to work flexibly, including evenings and occasional weekends, to meet the needs of families

What we offer

• A supportive and experienced team environment
• Regular supervision and professional development opportunities
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in children and families' lives
• A service committed to strength-based, relationship-focused practice

Additional information

This role requires:

• The ability to work flexibly across the borough
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
• Strong partnership working and communication skills

Why join us?

You’ll be joining a service that:

• Values relationship-based and strengths-focused practice
• Supports staff to develop, reflect and grow
• Works creatively to achieve the best outcomes for families

If you are motivated, skilled, and passionate about making a difference, we would love to hear from you.

About Bury

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare or children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment may be subject to a satisfactory disclosure at the appropriate level under the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In line with safer recruitment, please ensure that your application/CV covers your full employment history and there is a reason noted for any gaps in employment. Successful candidates will be asked to provide relevant references for the past ten years and character references will not be accepted.

As a Corporate Parent, ensure that the work and services you deliver considers our care experienced young people, promotes their life chances empowers them to influence the policies, services, and decisions that affect them, champions their rights, and ensure they grow up in the best possible way

Benefits of working for Bury Council

To hear about the benefits for working with Bury Council, please visit A good employer | greater jobs

We support employees to work with agility, where appropriate for the post and service requirements.

We are committed to Bury being an equal society that recognises values and embraces all people, regardless of any difference, for the skills, abilities and experiences they bring into the workforce and the wider community. Therefore we guarantee an interview for disabled people, looked after children/ care leavers, armed forces personnel (including reservists and veterans) and carers of adults or disabled children if they meet the essential criteria.