Lead Practitioner, Family Support & Safeguarding

Stoke-on-Trent City Council; Hempstalls; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking a Family Help Lead Practitioner (Alternatively Qualified) to support families with children aged 0-18 who have complex needs. You will build trusted relationships, undertake holistic assessments and coordinate the whole-family plan with Practice Leads and partner agencies.

Join our Families First approach to deliver targeted interventions, strengthen networks, and help children stay safe and thrive, while working within a supportive team and accessing

Qualifications

• A relevant Level 3 qualification in a subject relating to work with children and young people.
• Experience of providing intensive support to families with multiple or complex needs, using a child-centred, whole-family approach.
• Knowledge of child development, parenting capacity and risk and harm inside and outside the home, with experience of assessing need and responding appropriately.
• An understanding of relational practice, the Families First Programme and Working Together to Safeguard Children, alongside the ability to use evidence-based interventions to support change.
• Strong communication, listening and advocacy skills, with experience of partnership working and coordinating a Team Around the Family, including constructive challenge where needed.
• The ability to manage a caseload, prioritise according to need and risk, produce clear assessments and records, and use supervision and reflection to maintain resilient, effective practice.

Responsibilities

• Undertake holistic Child's Family Assessments with children, parents, carers and wider family networks, developing clear plans with measurable outcomes and reviewable actions.
• Lead the Team Around the Family process and coordinate timely support across agencies, ensuring children's and families' views shape assessments, plans and decisions.
• Deliver direct work and evidence-based interventions, strengthen parenting confidence and support Family Group Decision Making so families can develop their own solutions.
• Help families access practical support with welfare, budgeting, education, employment and training, and connect adults with specialist services where needed.
• Work with Practice Leads, qualified social workers and multi-agency child protection colleagues to assess risk, develop safety plans and respond to harm, retaining trusted relationships with families.
• Review progress with families and partners, provide flexible support in crisis situations, and maintain timely, accurate assessments, reports and case records.

Skills

Communication skills

Advocacy

Team coordination

Caseload management

Child development knowledge

Risk assessment

Education

Level 3 qualification in child-related field

Job description

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking a Family Help Lead Practitioner (Alternatively Qualified) to support families with children aged 0-18 who have complex needs. You will build trusted relationships, undertake holistic assessments and coordinate the whole-family plan with Practice Leads and partner agencies.

Join our Families First approach to deliver targeted interventions, strengthen networks, and help children stay safe and thrive, while working within a supportive team and accessing