Family Advisor

Warwickshire County Council; Nuneaton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Warwickshire County Council's Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team seeks an experienced Family Advisor to support families, children and vulnerable adults during evenings, weekends and bank holidays. You will respond to urgent situations, assess risk, and act decisively in a fast-paced environment.

There are no ongoing caseloads or diary-full meetings; monthly enhanced financial allowances supplement a competitive annual salary.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2–5 years post-qualification experience in Children or Adult Services.
• Significant safeguarding experience with vulnerable families.
• Excellent communication, active listening, resilience and safeguarding knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Receive, screen and assess all incoming calls to the Emergency Duty Team.
• Identify statutory responsibilities and determine what can wait until next day.
• Prioritise workload, assess risk, and reach decisions with limited information.
• Maintain knowledge of children/adult legislation and IT systems.
• Manage a shift safely and confidently, recording accurately.

Skills

Safeguarding experience

Excellent communication

Active listening

Independent working

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Are you looking for a meaningful role where your skills can make a lasting difference? As a Family Advisor, you will provide vital support, information, and guidance to families during evening hours and bank holidays, helping ensure they receive the right help at the right time., Warwickshire County Council's Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team, recently rated "Good" by Ofsted, is seeking an experienced Family Advisor to join our dedicated team. Working evenings, weekends, and bank holidays, this role offers a unique alternative to mainstream children's services. There are no ongoing caseloads, no diary full of meetings, and no concern about unfinished work carrying into the next day. Each shift brings new situations, fresh challenges, and opportunities to support children, families, and vulnerable adults during times of crisis. The role is varied and dynamic, covering all aspects of safeguarding and emergency intervention. You will work with children, young people, families, and adults, responding to urgent situations, assessing risk, and making informed decisions in a fast-paced environment. This is a position for professionals who thrive on variety and enjoy working autonomously.

An enhanced financial allowance is payable monthly in addition to a competitive annual salary. Ongoing development, training, guidance, and support is always available. The role includes dealing with incoming referrals during out of office hours, working with families including vulnerable adults and children in a restorative manner to assess problems/crisis and to intervene appropriately and proportionately. You will be part of a highly experienced, supportive, creative and innovative team. Additional Information. Recently awarded "Good" by Ofsted WCC is an organisation committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

• Receiving, screening and assessing all incoming calls to the Emergency Duty Team.
• what is a statutory responsibility and what can and cannot wait until the next working day.
• Prioritising incoming work, assessing potential risk and reaching decisions often based on limited information is essential.
• Ensuring they have an in-depth working knowledge of children/adult legislation and a willingness and desire to learn and be able to practice generically is essential.
• Managing a specific shift safely and with confidence; Understanding data and how to use it to improve performance and keeping accurate recording and using the relevant integrated children's IT system
• A minimum of 2-5 years' post-qualification experience within Children or Adult Services.
• Significant experience of safeguarding children, adults and working with vulnerable families.
• Excellent communication, Active listening & Engagement, resilience, solid understanding of child development and safeguarding, and report-writing skills.
• The ability to make sound decisions quickly and confidently under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a professional telephone manner.
• The ability to work independently and manage competing demands effectively.
• A creative, solution-focused approach to problem-solving and negotiation.

The role requires the commitment of the post holder to be self-motivated, reflective, keen to learn and develop and with an overall knowledge of national agenda's and how they impact on local service delivery. Services provided by the Emergency Duty Team are critical in supporting the work of daytime services.

While the nature of emergency work can be demanding, it is also highly rewarding. You will have the opportunity to provide immediate support and intervention at critical moments, helping to safeguard and protect those most in need.

Warwickshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Please be advised successful applicants will be subject to a range of pre-engagement checks, including a relevant Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). In accordance with the DBS code of practice and our own policy, should an individual have a declared