jd-family-support-practitioner-2016

JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE:

Family Support Practitioner

REPORTS TO:

Families team manager

ORGANISATION:

Safety Net

About Safety Net Safety Net is an independent charity which was established in December 2004. Prior to that Safety Net was managed by the National Children’s Society. The aim of the project is to work together with organisations, community groups, parents and children to promote children’s safety and to prevent abuse. The principle methods of working are through community education, awareness raising and training and by working in partnership with other agencies and groups to establish child safety systems, policy and practice.

ORGANISATION CHART Safety Net Board of Trustees Project Director

Children and Young people’s team project

Families Team Manager

Safety Equipment scheme

Training project

Early Engagement workers

Family support practitioner

Parenting programme (triple p) project

Family Support Practitioner

Specialist mental health project worker

Family Support Practitioner

Family Support Practitioner

1. Purpose of post To provide a mix of short and time limited support to families in Brighton and Hove attending local schools. This post is part of a partnership with Brighton and Hove’s ‘ Stronger Families Stronger Communities Programme’ and takes a whole family approach to supporting improved outcomes for vulnerable families with particular emphasis interagency partnership with schools and families.

The post holder will primarily support and encourage parents/carers in understanding and enhancing their children’s development, education, health and wellbeing; recognise, value, and develop their own skills, and enhance family relationships and resilience. Be involved in supporting the range of issues impacting on family life, promote positive child-centred parenting, social and financial inclusion. Working with all family members to affect change

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2. Key Accountabilities: 

The post-holder will be expected to engage with parents, carers, children and young people individually and in family groups to negotiate achievable goals that build on family strengths, respect and are sensitive to the culture and make up of the family and children concerned. Ensure that agreed goals relate to the aims of the service as outlined in the work programme, using whole family and team around the family processes to ensure work is holistic, coordinated and part of interagency plan.

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To manage a case load, undertaking assessment, planning and delivery of time-limited, evidence and outcome based interventions to vulnerable children and families whose needs cannot be met by schools or other parenting / family services, using principles of solution focused working, protective behaviours and social learning theory and evidenced based interventions. This often involves home visiting.

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On occasion to plan and deliver and facilitate group work and evidenced based parenting programmes, bespoke workshops to parents and to identify groups of parents/carers with specific needs as agreed ensuring coordination with other agencies.

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On occasion to plan and deliver families activities events and outings as part of team and support the participation of family members alongside participation worker.

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Work in partnership with statutory non statutory and voluntary sector agencies. Attend interagency meetings, as a part of planning and reviewing work and communicating about any developing themes or issues for families, and build constructive interagency relationships

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Have lead responsibility for agreed key schools, to enable appropriate referrals form schools, and offer consultancy to schools’ staff when needed

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To assist from a neutral perspective the positive management of conflict between families, carers school and other agencies

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To work as part of a supportive team, enabling effective team working as well as operating with autonomy

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Maintain accurate records, information for monitoring and evaluation, produce reports and as needed on time and be present at associated meetings

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Keep up to date information on other agencies and resources and ensure that families have access to this.

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To work with child protection policies and ensure that Safeguarding procedures are followed at all times, and to seek advice if necessary from statutory agencies.

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To work with in current good practice guidance and legislation and to be part of a team developing and exchanging good practice within and beyond the organisation, participating in peer support supervision and practice forum meetings

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WORKING WITHIN SAFETY NET 1. To work in accordance with the principles of the Children’s Act and to adhere to the Safety Net child protection policy at all times.

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A commitment to attend training on solutions focussed and Protective Behaviours approaches and other relevant training as required.

3. To initiate and maintain accurate information in partnership with the family.

4. To contribute to the overall aims, objectives and smooth running of the Safety Net, including monitoring and evaluation, promotion, domestic tasks, attending staff meetings and training events as required.

5. To embrace Safety Net’s Equalities Policy and adhere to Safety Net’s Health & Safety policy.

6. To undertake such duties appropriate to the grade and character of the post as may reasonably be required.

WORKING CONDITIONS You will be expected to work a 37-hour week or agreed part-time hours. The work base will be at Emmaus in Portslade. Some unsocial hours may be required. The post holder will be expected to work with a degree of independence and autonomy The post holder will need to be prepared to travel across Brighton and Hove area including the Deans area.

The list of duties in the job description should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. There will be other duties and requirements associated with your job and as a term of your employment you may be required to undertake.

Your duties will be as set out in the above job description but please note that Safety Net reserves the right to update your job description, from time to time, to reflect changes in, or to, your job.

You will be consulted about any proposed changes

Person Specification Essential Criteria

Desirable Criteria

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A good understanding of child development

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Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

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An in depth understanding of the problems and challenges facing children and families and an ability to form relationships with families in difficulty and or conflict and to facilitate acceptable goals for change with all appropriate family members.

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Knowledge and experience of key evidenced based perspectives, strength based approaches and repertoire of change methodologies such as solution based work, CBT. X

Experience and training in parenting programmes such as Triple P, FAST,

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Excellent facilitation skills and ability to deliver training, workshops, groups and courses for parents and families.

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Experience of working with or in schools and a good understanding of how schools operate, to work competently and confidently in schools with autonomy and negotiate constructive relationships with a set of schools.

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Ability to work autonomously as well as within a team

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Ability and commitment to working effectively and collaboratively as part of a multi-agency team, knowledge of Early Help Processes and ability to take lead role and to operate confidently in interagency meetings

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Knowledge of statutory, non-statutory support services, x

Local Knowledge of community and voluntary sector agencies.

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Ability to manage a case load and keep accurate notes / records

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Sound knowledge of core statutory policies and procedures such as safeguarding and experience of working within these.

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Ability to produce clear, concise written reports to assist case work, evaluations and monitoring and to present as needed

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Computer literate & the willingness to adopt IT systems to facilitate working practices

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Good understanding of the principles of equal opportunities and how they would impact on this field of work.

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Very good standards of personal organization including reliability, time and workload management very clear appropriate communication.

Experience of home visiting

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Commitment to continued professional development and ability to utilize research, training and relevant literature to improve professional development.

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Ability to reflect on use of self in interaction with service users, other agencies and colleagues to enhance skills, including use of supervision

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Able to balance the authority aspects of the role with being able to engage constructively with parents and children who may be suspicious or distressed Committed to equalities practice, working with diversity, and anti discriminatory practice

x Committed to the promotion of the rights, and responsibilities, of children and parents and enhancing the participation of children and parents x

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Ability and willingness to travel throughout East Brighton. This will require a driving licence and access to a vehicle or access to private means of transport or the ability to demonstrate how this requirement will be met.

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