Family Practitioner

Family Practitioner Location: Staffordshire
Employer: Staffordshire County Council
Apply by emailing: john.deane@servicecare.org.uk

Make a Difference Where It Matters Most Do you have a passion for supporting children, young people and families to overcome challenges and achieve positive outcomes?

Staffordshire County Council is looking for a compassionate, skilled and motivated Family Practitioner to join its Children's Services team. This is an opportunity to work within a forward-thinking local authority that is committed to restorative practice, early intervention and helping families stay safely together wherever possible.

Working alongside social workers and partner agencies, you'll deliver meaningful interventions that empower families, strengthen relationships and improve the lives of vulnerable children across Staffordshire.

About the Role As a Family Practitioner, you will work directly with children, young people, parents, carers and wider family networks using a restorative approach that provides both high support and appropriate challenge.

You'll play a vital role in helping children remain safely within their families, supporting placement stability, reducing risk and promoting long-term positive outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Work directly with children and families using a restorative practice approach.
• Lead and contribute to Early Help Assessments and family support plans.
• Support children in need, those subject to Child Protection Plans and Children in Care alongside Social Workers.
• Deliver targeted interventions around parenting, attachment, behaviour management, conflict resolution, criminal exploitation, loss and grief, emotional wellbeing and safeguarding.
• Complete parenting assessments and contribute to wider assessments where required.
• Organise and facilitate family meetings, professionals' meetings and group sessions.
• Develop creative and flexible support plans tailored to individual family needs.
• Maintain accurate case recordings, reports and documentation.
• Build strong working relationships with partner agencies to deliver coordinated support.
• Be available to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of families.

About You We're looking for someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable children and has the confidence to build positive relationships with families experiencing complex challenges.

You will have:

• NVQ Level 3 in working with children and families (or an equivalent qualification).
• Experience working directly with vulnerable children, young people and families within a statutory or voluntary setting.
• A sound understanding of child development and the impact of trauma on children and young people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, children's social care processes and relevant statutory guidance.
• An understanding of issues including domestic abuse, mental health, substance misuse, poverty and their impact on family life.
• Experience delivering parenting programmes or structured family interventions.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to remain calm and effective when managing conflict and challenging situations.
• Strong IT and written recording skills.
• A commitment to restorative practice and strengths-based approaches.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle, as this is an essential car user role.

Why Join Staffordshire County Council? At Staffordshire County Council, you'll be joining an organisation with a clear vision:

• Creating opportunities for everyone to prosper, stay healthy and be happy.
• Supporting communities through ambitious, empowering and courageous leadership.
• Investing in staff development and creating an environment where people can thrive.
• Working within a collaborative and supportive Children's Services team focused on achieving the very best outcomes for children and families.

If you're passionate about making a genuine difference and want to be part of a service that puts children and families at the heart of everything it does, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply Today For more information or to apply for this Family Practitioner opportunity, please send your CV to:

john.deane@servicecare.org.uk