Strengthening Families Practitioner

Northamptonshire Children's Trust; Northampton Copse; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local children's support organization in Northampton is seeking a dedicated professional to engage with families facing complex needs. The role involves managing caseloads, conducting one-on-one support, and leading group work programs. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills and experience working in preventative roles. A robust benefits package is offered, including generous leave and pension schemes.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Employee discounts

Extensive learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience with single and group family support work.
• Ability to write assessments and support plans.
• Commitment to working in an inclusive, empathetic manner.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of families with complex needs.
• Undertake structured one-to-one family support.
• Support in the delivery of group work programmes.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Experience in preventative work with children and families

Ability to lead Team Around the Family meetings

Understanding of partnership working

Flexibility and creativity in support

Job description

Overview

Do you have the skills and experience to engage and build positive trusting relationships with parents, children and young people to inspire them to make positive changes and improve life opportunities? Strengthening Families is part of our Children and Family Support Services. Using a multi-agency approach, the service offers intensive support to children, young people and families with identified complex needs, to support and empower them to achieve good outcomes. The service delivers a range of interventions from direct work with families using an Early Help approach, to parenting and domestic abuse groups, and works collaboratively with partners to create a supportive team around the family to help families to sustain changes. Our benefits: we are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.

Responsibilities

• You will have extensive, hands-on experience in preventative work with children and families facing escalating complex needs
• You have excellent communication skills, written and verbal. You must be able to write assessments and support plans by building positive relationships with families
• You understand good practice and evidence-based interventions that will support positive change with children and their family
• An ethos of strong relationship based practice with children and families
• You have a good understanding and experience of partnership working
• You are flexible and creative with the support you are able to offer to children and families
• You can work on your own initiative and as part of a team
• Ability to lead Team Around the Family meetings

What will you be doing?

You will be based in one of our Children's Centres in Northampton area. You will be required to manage a caseload of families. This will include undertaking structured one-to-one family support work as a lead professional or a co-worker working alongside other professionals. You will be required to support in the delivery of group work programmes to families. If you feel that you have the skills and experience to do this role well and are passionate about working with colleagues who have children, young people and families at the heart of all they do, then we would welcome your application.

Benefits

We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health pension protection.
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - Health Assured provides 24/7 support for you and your immediate family
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

Organisation Context

At Northamptonshire Children's Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do - in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils.

Equal Opportunities

Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be. We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed. At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria. Join our dedicated team and be a part of an organisation where your work makes a real difference.