Family Practitioner

Family Practitioner Children’s Services – Staffordshire County Council

Our Vision A county where big ambitions, great connections and greener living give everyone the opportunity to prosper, be healthy and happy.

Our Outcomes Everyone in Staffordshire will:

• Have access to more good jobs and share the benefit of economic growth
  
  
• Be healthier and more independent for longer
  
  
• Feel safer, happier and more supported in their community
  
  

Our Values Our People Strategy is centred on what matters most to our communities and our workforce:

• Ambitious – We are ambitious for our communities and citizens
  
  
• Courageous – We recognise challenges and make brave decisions
  
  
• Empowering – We support our people to do their jobs well and grow
  
  

About the Role We are seeking a dedicated Family Practitioner to work restoratively with children, young people and families, offering high support and high challenge to help stabilise family life and prevent family breakdown.

You will work as part of a district-based Children’s Services team, supporting families to remain together wherever safe and appropriate, or to stabilise placements with foster carers.

Political Restriction: This post is politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Reporting to Family Practitioner Lead

Key Responsibilities

• Work within a restorative practice model to support children to remain within or return to their families
  
  
• Act as a key worker for children and families, leading Early Help assessments and plans
  
  
• Work collaboratively with social workers supporting children in need, on child protection plans and in care
  
  
• Facilitate and organise family and professional meetings, groups and interventions
  
  
• Contribute to parenting assessments, mediation, crisis prevention, conflict resolution and Life Story Work
  
  
• Deliver focused interventions around areas such as:
  
  
  • Staying safe
    
    
  • Loss and grief
    
    
  • Behaviour management
    
    
  • Attachment
    
    
  • Criminal exploitation
    
    
• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality records and reports
  
  
• Offer flexible support, including evenings and weekends when required
  
  

Professional Responsibilities

• Deliver services efficiently, effectively and within budget
  
  
• Work in line with People Management policies and procedures
  
  
• Promote equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice
  
  
• Support the Council’s climate change and energy conservation strategy
  
  
• Maintain high standards of health, safety and safeguarding practice
  
  

Person Specification Essential Requirements Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in working with children and families
  
  

Experience & Knowledge

• Direct experience working with vulnerable children, families and carers
  
  
• Understanding of child development and the impact of trauma and stress
  
  
• Knowledge of mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, poverty and wider vulnerabilities
  
  
• Experience of multi-agency working
  
  
• Knowledge of key children’s social care legislation, policy and guidance
  
  
• Experience facilitating accredited or evidence-based parenting programmes
  
  
• Ability to undertake assessments and make sound professional decisions
  
  

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent communication skills with children, families and carers
  
  
• Strong relationship-building and intervention delivery skills
  
  
• Ability to manage conflict effectively
  
  
• Confident IT skills with accurate record keeping
  
  
• Commitment to restorative practice
  
  
• Essential car user
  
  

Equality & Accessibility Staffordshire County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Alternative formats of this advert are available on request.

How to Apply To apply or request further information, please email:
? john.deane@servicecare.org.uk