Cambridgeshire County Council’s Targeted Support Service provides support to children, young people and their families.

Each district team consists of Family Workers, Young People’s Workers and managers. The team delivers targeted intervention support to reduce the risk of harm, prevent needs from escalating, strengthen family relationships, and support families to remain together and achieve positive, sustainable outcomes.

The role of a Family Worker is an exciting, dynamic and ever-evolving role, offering Cambridgeshire families a high quality, bespoke package of support alongside the Family Hubs provision.

Cambridgeshire County Council fully supports the principles of the Families First programme and is currently working on implementing the model in a considered and planned way to ensure the changes we make best meet the needs of our local communities and workforce. The Family Worker role is expected to evolve into a Family Help Lead Professional position in the future as the programme progresses.

Cambridgeshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we believe benefits our employees, the organisation and our communities.

For more information or to chat about the opportunity, please contact managers Claire Brackley or James Burgess;

Claire.brackley@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
James.burgess@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Interviews will be held in person at the Fields Child and Family Centre on the 9th and 10th November.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

What will you be doing?

You will use a whole family approach for supporting families, working with them on an individual basis in their homes, and within the community. You will complete Assessments and be the Lead Professional for the family. As Lead Professional you will work in partnership with a multi- agency team around the family to provide tailored targeted intervention that enables families to achieve positive outcomes.

You will organise, plan and deliver evidence-based group work programmes to support parents/carers with topics such as parenting, childhood development, domestic abuse and healthy relationships.

Qualities:

• You will be motivated and dedicated to supporting families to achieve positive outcomes.
• You will be organised, able to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• You will be willing, approachable, personable and able to build a positive rapport with children, young people and their families.
• You will be willing to continue your professional development through informal and formal training.

Skills and experience:

• A good knowledge and understanding of child development, signs of abuse and neglect, and of child protection legislation, policies and procedures.
• A good knowledge and understanding of the importance of school attendance and access to education.
• A good knowledge and understanding of how to conduct assessments and create plans for support that promote positive outcomes.
• A good knowledge and understanding of providing direct support to vulnerable families and of evidence-based programmes.
• Strong communication skills, using a variety of formats, and the ability to work efficiently within a multi-agency environment.
• The ability to produce, keep and maintain good case recording, reports and assessments.
• Willingness to travel locally and across the county.

About you

Please apply via the online application form and tell us how you meet the following essential criteria:

1. Why would you like to be considered for this role?
2. What skills, attributes and experiences will you apply to this role?
3. Please add any other information in support of your application.
4. Knowledge and understanding of the issues facing young people and parents.
5. Experience of multi-agency and partnership working to ensure the best outcomes for families.
6. The ability to write objective assessments and to complete accurate triage as part of work with families.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK. Successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Interviews will include a young people’s panel in addition to a Targeted Support management panel.

Our benefits

We value our colleagues in Cambridgeshire County Council and have developed a number of benefits in addition to the basics like annual leave, sick pay, pension and mileage…

• A comprehensive wellbeing package to cover all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work, which can also be accessed by your family
• Buy up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro-rata) through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities, apprenticeships and qualified coaches to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to Peer Support Groups through our IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to nominate and receive Employee Recognition Awards
• An Our Cambs Rewards account, giving you access to in-store and online discounts as well as our Car Lease and Cycle to Work schemes

Take a look at our Employment Benefits Brochure attached to this advert to find out more.