Lead Practitioner Family Help - 37 Hours

Torbay Council; Torquay; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Torbay Council is seeking a Lead Practitioner for Family Help to deliver targeted support to families with complex needs. The role involves direct work with children and parents in homes and group settings, focusing on building skills, confidence and positive daily living.

The post requires flexible hours, travel across Torbay, and hybrid working. The successful candidate will have experience in social care and safeguarding, with a commitment to improving outcomes for children and families and a

Qualifications

• Evidence of consistent learning from education, training and experience.
• GCSE English at Grade C or above.
• Experience in health or social care with children and young people.
• Experience of working with children, young people and families displaying challenging behaviour.
• Experience of health/social care needs and services.

Responsibilities

• Lead Practitioner role within the Family Intervention team.
• Provide parenting support services to Torbay families.
• Work in homes, groups and community settings to improve outcomes.
• Travel across Torbay, the Southwest and occasional UK travel.
• Adhere to safeguarding and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Assessments & planning

Record keeping

Engagement with families

Communication skills

Education

GCSE English (C+)

Job description

Lead Practitioner Family Help - 37 Hours

Application Deadline: 31 August 2026

Department: Childrens Services

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Torbay Council

Reporting To: Team Manager

Compensation: £32,578 - £35,570 / year

Description

Job Description & Person Specification >

We have a Lead Practitioner vacancy with the Family Intervention team, providing parenting support services to our Torbay families.

We are a busy team working and offer focused family support to families with complex needs through targeted support. We work flexibly and creatively with parents and their children in their homes and in groups, to increase the skills, confidence, and abilities of all family members to live their daily lives in a positive and safe way.

Our ethos is guided by working restoratively with children, families, and colleagues. We have a focus of developing strong positive working relationships with whole families and partner agencies through the process of Team Around the Family meetings.

We are looking for skilled practitioners who have experience of direct work with families who are experiencing challenges. You will have confidence and skills to work with young people and families in crisis. You will be a dedicated and enthusiastic professional, committed to improving outcomes for children and their families.

Appropriate candidates will have a good understanding of social care. You will also come with particular experience and knowledge of how to work with specific hard to reach groups including those affected by domestic abuse, mental health difficulties, anti-social behaviour, criminal and sexual exploitation, gang affiliation, drug and alcohol misuse, school exclusion, or truanting.

We know this is a demanding role, which is why we invest in our people. You'll have access to ongoing learning and development through the Torbay Children's Services Learning Academy, helping you grow your expertise and career.

You'll need the ability to travel efficiently across Torbay, the Southwest, and occasionally the UK, and having the flexibility to work unsociable hours and embrace hybrid working is essential.

This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.

Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 7th September 2026.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

At times there is a need to close our adverts earlier than the date specified, however this advert will not close before 31st August.

Skills

Essential:

• Ability to carry out assessments, plan and deliver needs-based packages of support.
• Ability to produce and maintain accurate records and reports.
• Ability to engage positively with children, young people and their parents.
• Ability to offer appropriate support to families affected by:
  • Family breakdown.
  • Homelessness.
  • Child Protection issues.
  • Drug and/or alcohol dependency.
  • Tenancy breakdown.
  • Non school attendance.
• Effective communication/interpersonal skills.

Knowledge

Essential:

• Understanding of basic human needs, physical, emotional and social.
• Knowledge of Children's Act 1989 and 2004, Adoption legislation, Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (Parenting Orders and Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.
• Knowledge of issues facing families at risk of family breakdown.
• Self-awareness of own strengths and weaknesses.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential:

• Evidence of consistent pattern of learning from education, training and experience.
• GCSE pass in English at Grade C or above or equivalent.
• Work in a health or social care environment (paid or unpaid) with children and young people.
• Experience of working with children, young people and families displaying challenging behaviour.
• Experience of health/social care needs and services.