• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX – Hybrid
• Salary: £29,542 per annum pro rata
• Hours: 30 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent

We are passionate about improving the future for our customers and communities. If you are too, join us as a Family Help Practitioner in our Post Adoption and Special Guardianship Order (PASGO) Service and make a meaningful difference to children and families across Suffolk.

In this varied and rewarding role, you will help children and families maintain safe, positive and meaningful relationships following adoption or a Special Guardianship Order. You will use your skills, experience and creativity to provide sensitive, practical and emotional support, helping people understand and navigate their lifelong adoption or special guardianship journey.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Family Help Practitioner, you will:

• help children maintain safe and meaningful relationships following adoption or a Special Guardianship Order
• support relationships between birth families and Special Guardianship carers
• provide sensitive and appropriate support to birth parents
• manage day-to-day Keeping in Touch arrangements, including letterbox contact
• assist adopted adults seeking access to their records
• provide emotional support to children, parents and other individuals with complex needs
• undertake life-story work, prepare life-story books and develop direct-work materials
• support PASGO Social Workers to design, facilitate and deliver training
• organise local meetings, support groups, events and activities
• work flexibly with Family Help Practitioners and Social Workers across the PASGO Service
• monitor and review commissioned therapeutic services.

You will also maintain accurate and timely records, recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, and work collaboratively with families, colleagues and other professionals.

You will need

We are looking for someone who has:

• a relevant Level 3 practitioner qualification, or equivalent relevant experience

• experience of working directly with children, young people and families, building positive and collaborative relationships

• strong communication skills, with the ability to provide appropriate support and manage challenging situations

• a good understanding of safeguarding and risk, including when concerns need to be escalated

• strong organisational and record-keeping skills, with the ability to prioritise your workload and work effectively both independently and as part of a team

• due to the nature of this role, you will be required to have a driving licence and access to personal transport. If you feel you can meet these travel requirements through other suitable means, please contact the Hiring Manager before applying to discuss.

Knowledge of Signs of Safety and solution-focused approaches would also be beneficial.

You can view the full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, we would still appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Post Adoption and Special Guardianship Order Team supports children and families after an Adoption or Special Guardianship Order has been made.

We provide a countywide service supporting direct and indirect contact for children who are adopted or living under special guardianship arrangements. We also complete work around identity and lifelong links, helping children and their families understand their adoption or special guardianship journey.

Within the Keeping in Touch Team, previously known as the letterbox service, you’ll help manage the often-complex relationships and arrangements between children, birth families, adoptive families and Special Guardianship carers. You’ll work closely with Family Help Practitioners, Social Workers and other professionals to provide thoughtful, child-focused support.

Take a look at what makes our Ideal Worker, shaped by the voices of young people: find out more.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Rachel Hobbin (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 264622 or emailing rachel.hobbin@suffolk.gov.uk

How to apply

Step 1 – Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 – Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 – Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

Please give an example of when you have worked directly with a child, young person or family to achieve a positive outcome. What was your role, what approach did you take and what difference did your involvement make?

Please provide an example of when you have supported people to maintain or develop a positive relationship in challenging or sensitive circumstances. How did you build trust, manage differing needs and maintain appropriate boundaries?

Tell us about a time when you supported someone experiencing a complex or emotionally challenging situation. How did you adapt your communication and approach to meet their needs?

Tell us about a time when you had several competing pieces of work or deadlines to manage. How did you prioritise your workload while ensuring records and actions were completed accurately and on time?

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at: recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 9 November 2026

Promoted as SPJ (Standard Plus Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).