Intensive Support Worker

Staffordshire County Council; Stafford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire is recruiting an Edge of Care Practitioner to deliver intensive, relationship-based support to children and families to prevent breakdown and reduce the need for care. You will work with children aged 8-18, develop tailored plans, work with social workers and partner agencies, maintain records, and participate in supervision, training and duty rotas.

This role requires Level 3 NVQ in Childcare or equivalent, a full UK driving licence, and flexibility

Qualifications

• Qualified to Level 3 NVQ in Childcare (or equivalent) and committed to continuous learning and professional development.
• Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Deliver intensive support to children and young people aged 8-18 and their families to prevent family breakdown and reduce the need for children to enter care.
• Develop and implement tailored support plans to help children remain safely at home or achieve reunification where planned.
• Undertake direct work with children, young people and families, providing interventions to address needs and improve family functioning.
• Work collaboratively with Social Workers, families and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes.
• Undertake targeted interventions and direct work to support progression of family time, reunification planning, and reassessment for permanency decisions.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and high-quality recordings and reports in line with service standards and statutory requirements.
• Participate in the team's duty system and respond to referrals and emerging family needs.
• Contribute to team meetings, supervision, training and ongoing service development.
• Promote safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people at all times.

Skills

Relationship-based practice

Communication skills

Independent working

Team collaboration

Education

Level 3 NVQ in Childcare

Job description

Make a real difference to children and families across Staffordshire. Our Edge of Care Team works alongside children, young people, and families during some of the most challenging periods of their lives. We provide intensive, relationship-based support to prevent family breakdown, reduce the need for children to enter care, and support safe and sustainable reunification where returning home is the agreed plan. As part of our skilled, experienced, and supportive team, you will deliver impactful interventions, build meaningful relationships with children and families, and work collaboratively with a range of professionals to achieve positive outcomes. We are committed to supporting development through regular supervision, training, and access to a comprehensive suite of evidence-based resources to achieve positive outcomes for children, young people, and their families.

Main Responsibilities As an Edge of Care Practitioner, you will:

• Deliver intensive support to children and young people aged 8-18 and their families to prevent family breakdown and reduce the need for children to enter care.
• Develop and implement tailored support plans that help children and young people remain safely at home or successfully return home where reunification is the agreed plan.
• Undertake direct work with children, young people, and families, providing interventions that address identified needs and improve family functioning.
• Work collaboratively with Social Workers, families, and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.
• Undertake targeted interventions and direct work with children, young people, and family members to support the progression of family time, successful reunification planning, and the reassessment of family members to inform permanency planning and decision-making.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and high-quality recordings and reports in line with service standards and statutory requirements.
• Participate in the team's duty system and respond effectively to referrals and emerging family needs.
• Contribute to team meetings, supervision, training, and the ongoing development of the service.
• Promote the safety, welfare, and wellbeing of children and young people at all times.
• Experience working directly with children, young people and families, building positive relationships and delivering effective interventions to address a range of needs and challenges.
• Skilled in engaging and supporting families experiencing vulnerability, relationship breakdown, exploitation or other complex circumstances, using high support and high challenge approaches.
• Knowledge and application of restorative, relational, strengths-based and solution-focused practice to improve family relationships, resilience and outcomes.
• Strong assessment, planning, recording and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and contribute positively within a collaborative team environment.
• Qualified to Level 3 NVQ in Childcare (or equivalent relevant qualification) and committed to continuous learning and professional development.
• Hold a full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle, and able to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends on a rota basis to meet the needs of children and families.
• The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy: We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future. We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits: We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire