- Suffolk County Council
- Address: Beacon House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 5PB and Riverside, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ
- Salary: £28,598 per annum (pro rata for part time)
- Hours: 2 x 37 hours per week – Flexible working options available
- Contract: Permanent
As a modern, flexible and effective organisation, we’re driven to make a positive difference to the environment, the communities we serve and the careers of our people. That’s why, when you join us as a Family Support Practitioner, you’ll be encouraged to share your fresh thinking and empowered to explore new ideas that will shape and improve our services as well as your career.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
You’ll work closely with children and families facing challenges, helping them build stronger bonds and brighter futures and to remain living at home. Your role will be dynamic and impactful – from conducting assessments to crafting personalised support plans for families to make improvements in their lives. You’ll be the person who spots potential risks and ensures children’s safety by escalating issues as soon as they happen. As a natural communicator, you’ll foster positive relationships between families and support networks. Plus, you’ll encourage engagement in group activities that bring families together. If you’re passionate about transforming lives and creating lasting change in your community, this could be your dream job.
You will
- work directly with vulnerable children and their families to support them remaining living at home
- undertake assessments and implement plans to support children and their families to make improvements in their life
- identify risk and safeguarding concerns and escalate appropriately
- develop supportive working relationships between families, carers, children, and external agencies
- encourage engagement in group work and activities.
You will need
- experience of undertaking direct, activity based and group work with children and families
- to be able to build strong, effective relationships with the child, young person and family
- to find solutions which promote the wellbeing of children and their family
- experience and knowledge of assessment
- motivation to learn and develop skills.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
The Family Solutions Team deliver intensive targeted support to families who are experiencing a range of complex needs, for example substance misuse, domestic violence and families who are suffering poor family relationships.
The Family Solutions Team provide an SOS+ trauma-informed, restorative approach to enable caregivers to recognise, acknowledge and fully understand the outlined worries and support them to make positive changes by building on and empowering them with skills, knowledge, and safety measures.
The Family Solutions team will specifically offer an intervention to:
- divert children and young people from entering care (Prevent entering care)
- support children to return home following a stay in Emergency Bed Accommodation in which a 10-day period of Child in Care has been agreed as a short break. An immediate 4+ week package will be offered to include a family network meeting. (Unplanned breakdown)
- reunify children from a care setting where it has been assessed as safe to do so (Reunification)
- stabilise placements by supporting children, young people, and their placement providers where there is a risk of the child entering unregulated placements (Restore and prevent).
Empowering Everyone
We’re 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 Emma Orchard (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 07860 833264 or emailing emma.orchard@suffolk.gov.uk
How to apply
Step 1 – Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) docx).
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.
- Can you describe a time when you worked directly with a child or family facing complex challenges? How did you build trust and foster positive relationships to support them in making improvements in their lives?
- Tell us about a time you worked with a family from a different cultural, religious, or social background. How did you ensure their needs were identified and that equality of opportunity was provided in your support?
- Describe a situation where you used a solution-focused approach to help a family overcome barriers. What techniques did you use and what was the result?
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 18 December 2025
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
