Outreach Worker
Permanent, Full Time
£26,284 up to £33,256 per annum
Location: Harlow
Working Style: Community-based worker
Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.
Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.
Job Purpose:
The Outreach worker (fostering) will support the stability of children’s care arrangements, to prevent children moving foster homes in an unplanned way and maximise the potential for children to thrive and meet their potential in care.
The postholder will work directly with children in care, foster carers and supported lodgings carers to provide practical support and guidance and organise support groups and activities for carers. The postholder will work with collaboratively with others to promote better outcomes for children and support the retention of foster carers.
The role requires an awareness of the impact of trauma on children’s behaviour. The role also requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with both children and adults.
This role will require working flexible hours to support planned work outside of usual office hours and may require occasional unplanned emergency work.
Accountabilities:
Direct work with children:
- Undertake direct work with children and young people as planned by supervising social workers, mental health workers or others in the child’s network.
- Undertake direct work with the sons and daughter’s of foster carers.
- Attend other meetings relevant to the child as directed by the fostering manager.
- Participate when appropriate in the observation and assessment of young people.
- Ensure accurate records of all conversations with children and carers are kept and appropriately uploaded to the system and that relevant information is shared with the right people and recorded appropriately.
- Work collaboratively with statutory and voluntary partners to ensure the safety and best outcomes for children and their families.
- Build relationships with the child through group and / or one to one work where targeted work has been assessed as appropriate.
Direct work with carers:
- Participate in the training and support of carers, which may include providing parenting advice, organising carer support groups and organising local activities for children, carers and their birth children.
- Provide practical support to carers in their tasks of caring for children and young people, as agreed by the carer’s supervising social worker the outreach worker’s supervisor or the fostering team manager.
Supporting the team and wider fostering service:
- Support the work of the wider Fostering Service, including contributing to the organisation of countywide fostering events .
- Participate, with the line manager in the development of specific individual and shared targets and objectives annually within the performance management framework.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
- Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) or equivalent by experience, which may include specific practical qualifications.
- Experience of working with children and families.
- Experience of working with the public and the ability to maintain clear boundaries and open communication with clients and colleagues.
- An awareness of the impact of trauma on children’s behaviour.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to act assertively and resolve conflict.
- Ability to manage own workload and time effectively.
- An ability to work in partnership with social work colleagues and other professionals.
- Hold a valid driving licence and car available for business use, or access to a car and driver.
- Familiarity with children’s safeguarding protocols, the Children Act 1989 and the 2011 Fostering Service Regulations and National Minimum Standards for Fostering
To read more about us please visit:
Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video
The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone’s Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.
We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
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