Family Group Conference Coordinator

Northumberland County Council; Morpeth; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave + holidays (pro‑r

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexi scheme – extra leave options

Job summary

Northumberland County Council is seeking a dedicated Family Group Conferencing Coordinator to lead conferencing sessions and coordinate support for children and families. You will work with families, extended networks, and professionals to develop safe, family-led plans.

Applicants should have NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, strong listening/mediation skills, and a commitment to safeguarding. Flexibility for evenings/weekends and a valid driving licence are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Experience or qualifications in working with children and families.
• Respond to diverse family needs with sensitivity and cultural awareness.
• Exercise independence, initiative and professional judgement.
• Understanding of Child Protection and safeguarding procedures.
• Strong listening and mediation skills with conflict management ability.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends.
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate Family Group Conferences to support families.
• Facilitate family decision making and negotiate support within family networks.

Skills

Listening skills

Mediation skills

Independence

Initiative

Safeguarding procedures

Flexibility

Driving licence

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Job description

Job IntroductionAre you ready to be part of developing a new service in Northumberland that uses evidence-based approaches to support families. Northumberland Children Services have recently created a Family Group Conferencing (FGC) Team, and we want you to be part of this exciting journey. You will be responsible for providing high quality Family Group Conferences, bringing together families, extended family members, friends, communities and services to agree safe plans for children, young people and their families. We are looking for a creative and flexible facilitator who has good listening skills to deliver Family Group Conferences. The postholder will lead and coordinate Family Group Conferences to encourage family decision making and responsibility for their children and young people by negotiating and discussing support within their family network. Family Group Conferences are strengths and solution focused therefore you will need to demonstrate a strong belief in family led decision making and the value of relationships to support children, young people, their extended family networks, and professionals to fully participate in the process.

Why work in Northumberland?

Not only will you be contributing to vital work that positively impacts children and families, but you’ll be working in one of the UK’s most beautiful and vibrant areas. Enjoy beautiful scenery, from countryside to coast, fresh air, outdoor adventures, and close-knit communities, while being part of an ‘Outstanding’ Children's Services Team doing impactful work that changes lives.

We are looking for:

• 1 Full-Time Family Group Conferencing Coordinator with a genuine passion for supporting families.
• Experience or qualifications in working with children and families (NVQ Level 3 or equivalent).
• An ability to respond to the needs of individual families from diverse backgrounds
• The ability to exercise a high degree of independence, initiative and expertise
• An understanding of Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures.
• Strong listening and mediation skills and the ability to manage conflict.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle.

What We Offer:

• Full training to become a skilled and confident Family Group Conferencing Coordinator.
• The opportunity to work in a supportive team where your contribution truly matters.
• The chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of children, young people, and families in Northumberland.
• A role that offers not just a career, but a chance to work in a land of great opportunities.

Why choose us?

We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme (if applicable) – up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)

Alternative application format:

British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net

For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.