Key Worker - New Beginnings

London Borough of Hillingdon; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working Hours

36 Hour Week

Generous Holiday Entitlement

Perkbox Benefits

Mental Health Support and Counselling

Travel Support

Trade Union Membership

Job summary

The London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking a dedicated Key Worker to support expectant and potential parents using trauma-informed, relationship-based practice. You will conduct holistic assessments, develop tailored plans and collaborate with health, social care and community partners to promote safe family life.

Join a specialist team delivering early intervention, prevention and strength-based support, with opportunities for professional development and reflective practice.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and families with multiple or complex needs.
• Strong engagement skills to motivate families and build trust.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, child development and evidence-based family interventions.
• Resilience, persistence and creativity in overcoming barriers.
• Ability to manage varied caseloads, maintain clear records and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Confidence in chairing meetings, writing reports and working with partner agencies.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed practice and inclusive approaches.
• Proficiency with digital tools for casework and family engagement.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of families facing complex challenges across home and community.
• Carry out family help assessments and develop SMART, outcome-focused plans.
• Deliver practical, evidence-based interventions and coaching with positive routines.
• Provide parenting guidance across child development stages.
• Chair family help meetings and contribute to case conferences and reviews.
• Maintain accurate case records and progress evidence.
• Collaborate with Social Workers, schools, health services and housing.
• Manage care packages and direct payments where applicable.
• Uphold safeguarding standards at all times and escalate concerns.
• Help parents recognise strengths and build resilience and support networks.

Skills

Experience with families with complex/

Engagement and trust-building

Safeguarding knowledge

Resilience and creativity

Caseload management and records

Chairing meetings and reporting

Trauma-informed practice

Digital casework tools

Job description

Are you passionate about supporting families to overcome adversity and achieve positive change?

About the role

The New Beginnings Service is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Key Worker to provide trauma-informed, relationship-based support to expectant and potential parents who have experienced significant challenges, including previous care proceedings, trauma, or complex social care involvement.

Working alongside families, you will build trusting relationships, complete holistic assessments, develop tailored support plans, and help parents prepare for safe and nurturing family life.

You will work closely with partner agencies, including health services, Children's Social Care, mental health services, substance misuse services and community organisations, to coordinate effective support.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a lasting difference through early intervention, prevention and a strengths-based approach that helps families create brighter futures.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of families facing complex challenges such as parenting difficulties, mental health, substance misuse, risk of homelessness or disengagement from education.
• Carry out family help assessments and develop SMART, outcome-focused plans in partnership with families.
• Deliver practical, evidence-based interventions, modelling positive routines, boundaries and problem-solving strategies in the home and community.
• Provide parenting guidance, advice and coaching across all stages of child development.
• Use trauma-informed and inclusive practices to build engagement, including with families who may be resistant.
• Chair family help meetings and contribute to case conferences, statutory reviews and court proceedings.
• Maintain accurate case records, reports and plans, ensuring they evidence progress and outcomes.
• Work in partnership with Social Workers, schools, health services, housing, Police and voluntary sector organisations.
• Manage and monitor care packages and direct payments for children with disabilities, ensuring support is effective and accessible.
• Uphold safeguarding standards at all times and elevate concerns appropriately.
• Help parents recognise their strengths, build resilience, strengthen support networks and access the services they need.

About You

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience working with children and families with multiple or complex needs.
• Strong engagement skills, with the ability to motivate families and build trust.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, child development and evidence-based family interventions.
• Resilience, persistence and creativity in overcoming barriers.
• The ability to manage a varied caseload, maintain clear records and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Confidence in chairing meetings, writing reports and working with partner agencies.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed practice and inclusive approaches.
• Proficiency in digital tools for casework and family engagement.

Why Join the New Beginnings Team?

This is a unique opportunity to make a real impact at a critical stage of family life, before birth.

You’ll be part of a specialist, supportive team working in a dynamic and innovative environment, with opportunities for ongoing development, supervision and reflective practice.

You'll help families build resilience, create positive change and give children the best possible start in life.

Benefits

• About You
• About us
• We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.
• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
• Perkbox Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Perkbox Benefits.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
• Trade Union Membership – The Council recognises UNISON, Unite, AEP and GMB and supports employees’ freedom of choice in relation to trade union membership.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a 'per application' basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject tothe following pre-employment screening:

• Enhanced DBS Check
• 2 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.