Early Help Practitioner

Peterlee
Posted 2 weeks ago

The role of Early Help Practitioner is vast and we wouldn’t expect you to do all of it – for example we won’t be allocating you pre birth intervention work.

The majority of work will be covering Baby and Me and Toddler and Me Groups, some case work depending on experience, organisation of the Family Hubs, supporting delivery of other groups and services within the Family Hub.

There is parking on site at both Seaham and Easington Family Hubs, your base will be Easington Family Hub but travel between the 2 is essential.

DESCRIPTION OF ROLE:

The 0-19 Family Hub will deliver a 0 – 19 years ‘Local Family Offer’ whilst retaining a clear focus on early years in line with the ‘best start’ in life will provide a broader range of support services for family support in local communities

Some families in County Durham experience a range of factors assessed at level 2 of the Durham Staircase of Need which have a negative impact on outcomes for their children including poverty and worklessness

The aim of the Early Help Practitioner is to provide direct help to empower families to access a range of support networks within their local communities and those delivered in and through the Community Family Hub with the aim of building resilience and sustained change.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES SPECIFIC TO THIS POST:

Provide direct help and interventions to families that contribute to meaningful positive change. This may include supporting families to make and attend appointments, modelling appropriate actions and behaviours and assisting the necessary day to day activities that enable families to progress and maintain positive outcomes;
Develop and use a range of approaches to engage and build an effective working relationship with parents and families to enable positive change to take place;
To work with vulnerable parents to enable them to identify, acknowledge and meet their own and their children’s needs, develop life skills, make and sustain effective change and reduce vulnerability;
To work using an agreed Early Help Assessment and supporting family plan utilising where required TAF processes, to understand the family’s needs and offer a range of interventions to support sustained change
To participate in and adhere to Safeguarding procedure as defined by the Local Children’s Safeguarding Boards Policy and Procedures;
To work in partnership with children, young people, and their families in contributing to family plans which focus upon strengths and wishes;
To facilitate targeted group work sessions with children and/or young people in order to address a range of identified issues and improve outcomes
To monitor and review progress against agreed goals and challenge where appropriate;
To contribute to a planned and timely exit strategy for the family including the appropriate use of Community and Voluntary organisations
To advocate and mediate on behalf of the family, individuals and partner agencies;
Work with parents and families to develop confidence to engage with services and other support from the statutory, voluntary and the independent sector;
To plan and deliver innovative support and evidence based intervention packages to children, young people, parents and carers including facilitating parenting programmes to support parents to develop their parenting skills and aspirations;
Providing opportunities for adults to participate in activities that improve their personal skills, education and employability;
Enhancing parents’ understanding of their responsibilities for their children’s safety and well-being;
To ensure that accurate records are maintained which reflect decision making, is evidence based and to agreed standards;
To ensure that children, young people, their families and carers views are at the centre of the service and promote their participation in all aspects of service delivery.
Be accountable for and review own practice using supervision, reflective practice and other opportunities for continuous professional development;
To work flexibly to meet the needs of children and families, including some evening weekend working;

The candidates must have:

Level 3 qualification in a relevant children’s services field.
Evidence of continuous professional development.
Recent experience of working and supporting vulnerable children and families in the home and community settings;
Experience of delivering planned interventions using evidence-based practice leading to improved outcomes;
Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
Experience of partnership working to achieve desired results;
Experience of responding effectively to safeguarding issues and concerns;
Experience of group facilitation;
Experience of working with a range of professionals, external partner agencies and service providers
Knowledge of the physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs of children and families;
Integrated multi agency working processes and practices for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults;
Values and principles underpinning whole family intervention;
Persistent and proactive approaches in engaging families;
Understand the nature of effective relationships;
Establishing and maintaining professional boundaries;
Understand information sharing, consent and confidentiality;
Goal planning, monitoring and review processes;
Problem solving skills – ability to be innovative and find creative solutions to implement change;
The range of evidence based programmes, interventions, services, networks and community resources available, and how to access them;
Child, young person and adult development;
Change theory;
Strategies to build parental self-confidence, capacity and resilience;
Family inclusive practice;
Ability to manage time effectively, prioritise, co-ordinate tasks and meet deadlines;
Knowledge of Safeguarding;
Proven verbal and written communication skills;
Negotiation and mediation skills;
Effective interpersonal skills including ability to work effectively as part of a team and in partnership with a range of external agencies;
To be able to demonstrate at all times the requirement to focus on the needs of the child and family;
The ability to reflect and evaluate to improve working practice;
The ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the Service;
Non-confrontational approach to problem solving;
Open, honest and assertive manner;
Supportive and challenging;
Ability to respect confidentiality;
Commitment to high quality service delivery;
Good team player;
Enthusiastic;
Persistence;
Empathy and positive regard;
Warm, respectful and sensitive;
Reliable;
Strong sense of Self;
Capable of independent travel to meet the requirements of the post;