Senior Early Help Navigator – MASH Children Services

London Borough of Croydon; Croydon; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A local municipal authority in the UK is seeking a Senior Early Help Navigator to manage MASH referrals and provide support to families. The ideal candidate will have experience working with children and families, possess excellent organizational and communication skills, and be adept at making complex decisions. This role offers a hybrid working model and a competitive salary ranging from £43,680 to £45,750.

Qualifications

• Proficient in the analysis of risk using a whole family approach.
• Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding thresholds.
• Critical thinking and exploration in early help services.

Responsibilities

• Manage a daily caseload of MASH referrals.
• Develop relationships with community partners.
• Provide comprehensive support to families.

Skills

Experience of working with children and families

Excellent organisational skills

Strong communication skills

Decision making and judgment

Strength-based partnership skills

Planning and implementation of change

Job description

Senior Early Help Navigator – MASH Children Services

Salary: Grade 10 £43,680-£45,750

Fixed Term / Secondment (12m) – 36 hours per week

Hybrid working – 3 office & 2 work from home days

Job Purpose

The role will involve being responsible for a daily caseload of new MASH referrals, where referrers are requesting early help services. Senior EH Navigator’s will speak to referrer’s, parents and carers and other key agencies involved with the child and/or their parent to help with a holistic understanding of the core needs of the child, and what support is needed to meet these needs. The role involves providing advice and information to partners and families to a range of services including health, welfare, education, youth and community organisations. The role involves identifying and ensuring comprehensive support to families, through a commitment to the service delivery and high-quality support through Croydon’s partnerships

The role will take a lead in developing relationships with Voluntary, Community and Faith group partners to positively meet the demands of Croydon’s families. Senior Early Help Navigator’s will participate in the monitoring and feedback of existing and new partnerships. Senior EH Navigator’s will report feedback received from families to improve our outcomes and quality assure experience of service. Keeping up to date, accurate electronic case files to monitor the progress of families and evidence the impact of the work and outcomes achieved.

About You

We are looking for an experienced and appropriately qualified professional that is able to demonstrate their knowledge and experience. The successful candidate will be a confident practitioner, with a broad understanding of child development. You will be proficient in the analysis of risk and able to apply a ‘whole family approach’ to the identification and understanding of need. We are looking for individuals who are skilled in the of building relationships quickly to engage families who may be hesitant or reluctant to work with the services. You will be able to identify needs independently and provide a light touch assessment using a signs of safety model to meet the needs of the family. You will have knowledge an understanding of systemic and strengths-based approaches and a comprehensive awareness of child protection and safeguarding thresholds. The work entails critical thinking and exploration in the broadest context of early help services, you will be able to demonstrate what this looks like. You will manage referrals within timescales and be accountable for the productivity of referrals to onward services.

Essential Requirements

• Experience of working with children and families.
• Have excellent organisational skills, being able to set up, access and maintain appropriate and effective systems to ensure oversight of referrals, data collection and analysis.
• Highly articulate and able to communicate complex issues clearly and effectively, both in writing and verbally with a wide range of audiences, particularly with families, colleagues within the team and within the multiagency network.
• Skilled in making complex decisions and judgements and in thinking innovatively.
• Ability to assess families’ needs effectively including identification of strengths and risks.
• Ability to champion working in a strength-based partnership with families and in promoting their involvement in designing and delivering solutions.
• Planning and implement change by persuading people of the benefits that can be achieved by helping early and collaboration to support improved outcomes for families and children.
• Experience of undertaking effective decision making that leads to improved outcomes and reduces the risk of safeguarding issues.

To view the Senior Early Help Navigator role profile, please click here.

About Us

Croydon Council’s priorities

• The Council balances its books, listens to residents, and delivers good sustainable services
• Get a grip on the finances and make the council financially sustainable
• Become a council which listens to, respects and works in partnership with Croydon’s diverse communities and businesses
• Strengthen collaboration and joint working with partner organisations and the voluntary, community and faith sectors
• Ensure good governance is embedded and adopt best practice
• Develop our workforce to deliver in a manner that respects the diversity of our communities

Key business plan outcomes:

• Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning
• Children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive, learn and fulfil their potential
• Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we’re proud to call home
• People can lead healthier and independent lives for longer
• Croydon Council’s new ways of working

Equal Opportunities Statement

Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.

Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
The Successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.