Return Home Interview Worker

CRA Group Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's social care organization in the UK is looking for a Return Home Interview Worker to conduct face-to-face interviews with young people after they go missing. This role plays a crucial part in understanding the reasons behind missing episodes and ensuring that young people's voices are heard. Candidates should have experience working with vulnerable youth, knowledge of safeguarding policies, and strong communication skills. The role involves collaboration with families and social workers to minimize repeat incidents and promote safety.

Qualifications

• Experience working with vulnerable children and young people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and procedures.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Conduct face-to-face Return Home Interviews with children and young people.
• Build trusting relationships to facilitate engagement.
• Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Organisational skills

Time-management skills

Ability to engage with diverse backgrounds

Job description

The Return Home Interview Worker will undertake face-to-face Return Home Interviews with children and young people following a missing episode. The role aims to understand the reasons for going missing, identify risks and safeguarding concerns, ensure the young person's voice is heard, and contribute to reducing the likelihood of repeat missing episodes and associated harm. The post sits within the Atlas Service at the front door of Children's Social Care and works closely with families, social workers and partner agencies.

• Undertake Return Home Interviews with children and young people following missing episodes, in line with statutory guidance and local procedures
• Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people to enable meaningful engagement
• Explore and understand the reasons for missing, experiences whilst missing, and risks both inside and outside the home
• Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns, including exploitation, substance misuse, peer associations and education‑related risks
• Work collaboratively with parents/carers, social workers and partner agencies to reduce the risk of repeat missing episodes
• Provide advice, guidance and information to young people and families around safety planning and available support services
• Advocate for children and young people, ensuring their views, wishes and feelings are clearly recorded and shared appropriately
• Complete assessments, reports and case records accurately and to a high standard within agreed timescales
• Attend and contribute to multi‑agency meetings and represent the Atlas Service when required
• Work flexibly across office, community and home‑working arrangements, including mandatory office attendance days
• Experience of working with vulnerable children and young people, including those with complex needs
• Ability to engage effectively with children and adolescents from diverse backgrounds
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policies and procedures relating to children and young people
• Confidence working with risk outside the home, including missing episodes, exploitation and contextual safeguarding
• Experience of undertaking interviews, visits, assessments and writing professional reports
• Strong communication, organisational and time‑management skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multi‑disciplinary team
• Ability to prioritise workload and work effectively under pressure
• Experience of conducting Return Home Interviews
• Experience of working within Children's Social Care or related services
• Understanding of contextual safeguarding and peer group dynamics