First Response Advisor

Trafford Council; Trafford; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days leave

Hybrid working

LGPS

Leadership development programs

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Trafford Council is seeking an experienced First Response Adviser to join the First Response Service in Trafford. You will support professionals with referrals and Early Help, acting within a busy multi-agency team to ensure the right help is provided at the right time.

You will engage families and professionals, communicating clearly and using IT systems to respond quickly and securely. A collaborative approach with partner agencies is essential.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills and professional manner.
• Good IT skills and ability to use standard software.
• Experience supporting families with referral processes and Early Help.

Responsibilities

• Support First Response with referrals and Early Help processes.
• Collaborate with a multi-agency team to ensure practice standards are met.
• Provide advice and guidance to First Response customers on referral pathways.

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Referral guidance

Education

PCF-aligned experience

Tools

Referral systems

Job description

Working Pattern: 1 Full Time, 1 Part Time (21.75 hrs)

Interview Type: In person

SMART Working: We aim to offer flexibility wherever possible. Many of our colleagues work from home one or more days a week and/or adjust their hours. We call this SMART working - giving you the freedom to shape your working pattern around your life, whilst still delivering great outcomes. Speak with the hiring manager about the range of flexible working options available for this role.

About the Role

Here in Trafford Children’s Services our vision is that our teams are offering the right help at the right time, and that at all levels our interventions make life better for children and families. We are ambitious for our children and for our practitioners - and our core value is ‘would this be good enough for my child’?

We want to have practitioners and managers who are confident and brave in their practice and are supported by strong leaders at all levels. As a relatively small local authority, we pride ourselves on our friendly teams, manageable caseloads, creative approach and colleagues who support each other.

In Trafford our approach is strengths-based, using relational and restorative practice. Our r "relational model of social work practice, which is well regarded by the wider workforce, has been successfully implemented.”

We believe that a culture and environment in which our managers and social workers can thrive is an essential element of improving outcomes for children and families. Our 2023 Ofsted report recognised this, noting a “cultural shift (that) has been underpinned by a strong training offer to support social workers to develop the skills they need to provide a better service to children”.

We are currently recruiting Experienced Social Workers (in line with PCF), with at least 2 years post qualifying experience to our First Response Service and would love to hear from you;

First Response Service

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a service that brings together and aligns our Early Help services with our Front Door of Social Care. The First Response Officer will play a key role in supporting professionals with the First Response process, and offer advice and support to First Response customers, particularly with regards to Early Help. They will also work as part of a busy multi agency team, supporting the team to ensure that practice standards are met, and that children and families receive the most appropriate support at the right time.

About you

You will work as part of a friendly well established team. As First Response Adviser you will have excellent communication skills, alongside a polite and professional manner. You will be required to support families and professionals who require advice with referral processes and with the provision of Early Help Support. You will work closely with partner agencies and other professionals, sharing information quickly and safely. Good IT skills are required and you should be able to effectively respond and adapt to the needs of those seeking advice.

Our commitment to you

We know that when you come to work in Trafford, we have a responsibility to provide you with the right tools and support to flourish in your new role.

Induction

We have recently updated our induction programme for new colleagues joining us at all levels. During your first two weeks you will have protected time to get to know your team, our systems and other parts of the service.

Supervision

One of our practice-led improvements has been to refresh our supervision framework, which has been a really exciting piece of work. We commit to offering monthly formal supervision that is both reflective and supportive and provides you with clear advice, guidance and direction. We also offer peer supervision as part of our refreshed framework, with practitioners involved in deciding the topics of discussion.

A note from Pamela Wharton, Director of Early Help and Social Care.

“Thank you for showing your interest in a role here in Trafford. I hope that you find the information we have provided helpful and that you feel that Trafford is somewhere you want to come and work. “Trafford is a great place to work and we are striving to make it even better. We believe the service structure we now have in place is working well and is enabling children and families to get the right help at the right time. You will find more information directly from colleagues about working at Trafford on our website. We hope you will like what you see and hear - and will be inspired to join us.

“I look forward to receiving your application. I firmly believe together we can truly make a difference.”

Find Out More.

For the full details of this opportunity, please refer to the role profile linked below.

If you have any questions or would like an informal chat you can get in contact with the Head of Service Rachel Carter‑Browne, at [e-mail]

About us...

Trafford is a vibrant, inclusive borough at the heart of Greater Manchester. Home to 235,000 residents, four thriving town centres, over 11,000 businesses, and 60+ parks and green spaces. We’re a place where community and opportunity meet. With excellent transport links, a proud heritage as the birthplace of the NHS, world‑class sporting venues and outstanding schools, Trafford is a fantastic place to live, work, and thrive.

Why Trafford?

We’re more than just a local authority; we’re a team of passionate people committed to making a real difference. We deliver essential services that matter, from education and social care to business support, licensing, libraries and leisure and much more. No matter what your role is with us, you will help us to create a borough where all our “residents, businesses and communities thrive.”

Our Culture...

Our values are at the heart of everything we do. They’re not just words on a wall, they shape how we work together, make decisions, and support each other every day.

They help us create a workplace where everyone feels valued, heard, and inspired to do their best. If you share these values and want your work to have real purpose and impact, Trafford is the perfect place to grow your career.

What you’ll love about working with us...

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, development and work-life balance:

• Generous Leave: Start with 26 days of annual leave (plus bank holidays), with options to carry over or buy extra days.
• Flexible Perks: Discounts on car leasing, cycle to work, home tech, plus family friendly policies and hybrid working
• Invest in your future: Join our generous Local Government Pension Scheme for peace of mind.
• Grow with us: We'll support your development at every stage! Through leadership programmes like our EPIC Manager, LEAP into leadership and senior leadership. Plus, you'll have access to specialist qualifications and personal coaching to unlock your full potential.
• Wellbeing First: Guided wellbeing walks and “Tea and Talk” sessions, and events like World Mental Health and National Fitness Day.
• Connect with us: Connect with colleagues through our staff forums or join our Let’s Talk events to network, share ideas, and hear about the exciting work happening across our council.
• Be Celebrated: For all your hard work, ideas and contributions through at our annual Time to Shine event, our cheers for peers’ scheme or through our EPIC Star Awards.

Key Information...

• Pre-Employment Checks: If offered a role, as a minimum we’ll need to verify your right to work in the UK, receive two satisfactory references, and medical check. Trafford Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check.
• Please note: We are not a licensed sponsor and will not be able to support with your work visa.
• Privacy Notice: We respect your privacy. For details on how we collect, process, and protect your data, please click here: Recruitment and employment privacy notice | Trafford Council privacy notice | Trafford Council

Supporting Documents

Role Profile