JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Senior Family Practitioner
Reporting to:
Cluster Manager
Location:
West Cluster Wiltshire: Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon
and Melksham Children’s Centres.
Salary:
£22,000 per annum (pro rata)
JOB PURPOSE:
4Children’s Children Centre service delivers services to support families with children
under five, offering universal and targeted support through group work and one to one
interventions. The postholder will work as a part of the team to deliver services that
improve the outcomes for families and have a positive impact on their lives.
Services are planned and delivered based on individual needs, working in partnership
with the Children’s Centres. The postholder will co-ordinate Family Practitioners Grade
2 and will provide Deputy responsibility to the Cluster Manager. You will provide
support and advice to families tailored to their individual needs, within the Children’s
Centre reach area and through home visits.
Job Activities:
1.
To work with families to provide practical, personal and emotional support, to
meet their needs and to have a positive impact on their lives.
2.
To provide support to Family Practitioners within groups and on a one to one
basis when a need is identified, recording and maintaining up to date details of
work completed within the family’s case file in line with the 4Children Support
Process and Policies and Procedures. This includes agreeing action plans and
reviewing progress at regular intervals.
3.
To encourage and support parents in contributing to their children’s
development and improving their outcomes.
4.
To co-ordinate and facilitate the delivery of sessions across the Children’s
Centre reach area.
5.
To use a range of tools, including the Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
and Soft Outcomes Universal Learning (SOUL), 4Children Progress Wheels to
assess children and families needs.
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6.
To work as a part of a multi-agency team to provide tailored support to a child
and the family, as required. This could include acting as Lead Professional and
arranging Team around the Child Meetings, actively involving the family and
other professionals.
7.
Work closely with the Children’s Centre and a range of partners, including
health professionals, to provide a range of services that meet the needs and
improve outcomes of children and families.
8.
To complete appropriate assessments of families and provide a package of
support to meet their needs. To regularly review the assessments and needs
of families.
9.
To identify hard to reach and vulnerable families and encourage them to
access Children’s Centre Services. This will include offering services in the
home, providing targeted groups and activities within the centre or outreach
sites as well as signposting and referring where appropriate.
10.
To consult with children, families and other partners to evidence need and
identify gaps within services.
11.
To assist in the coordination, administration, promotion and delivery of Children
Centre services.
12.
To provide group supervision to Family Practitioners Grade 2,
13.
To participate in the planning, delivering and evaluation of all services. To
record evidence of impact through tracking and case studies.
14.
Gathering and collating statistical information for monitoring purposes for
4Children and Commissioners. This may include producing verbal and written
reports.
15.
To accurately maintain and update data management systems used by
4Children.
16.
Ensuring all child protection concerns are reported immediately and
subsequently follow 4Children’s Policies and Procedures. This may include making
referrals to the appropriate local Social Care Team.
16. To follow procedures to ensure the safeguarding of children and families at all
times.
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Job Activities – Standard Terms Common to all Job Descriptions
1.
To promote the organisation's Equal Opportunities policies.
2.
To promote the organisations quality systems including Investors in People
policies.
3.
In discharging the duties of the post to have due regard for the provisions of
Health & Safety at Work legislation, as detailed in the Health & Safety manual.
4.
To undertake such additional duties as required which are commensurate with
the grade and responsibilities of the post..
5.
Flexibility to work across a Locality therefore full driving licence and access to
a car essential.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
1.
Experience of developing and providing programmes of activities and
support with children and their families, targeting those families that are
most vulnerable.
2.
Relevant Level 3 qualification or equivalent.
3.
Experience of one to one casework with children and their families.
4.
Knowledge and understanding of child development and issues effecting
parent’s ability to support their child.
5.
A commitment to working with children and their families and to ensure
their active participation in planning and delivering programmes.
6.
Experience of working with a range of professionals and organisations.
7.
A good level of computer literacy, including word-processing and
inputting data.
8.
Commitment to expanding knowledge and undertaking training.
9.
A good understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
10.
Ability to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines whilst under
pressure, working in a fast moving and changing environment.
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11.
Commitment to providing a flexible service to meet the needs of families,
including ability to work evenings and weekends.
12.
Full driving licence and use of a vehicle for work purposes.
13.
An understanding of the issues concerning equal opportunities and a
commitment to working within an equal opportunities environment.
14.
Car insurance to include business use.
15.
Regular declarations completed for insurance purposes for use of any
4Children vehicles.
16.
Working flexibly according to the needs of the community this may
include flexibility of working hours including evening, weekends etc.
Desirable
17.
18.
19.
20.
Qualification in Social Work, Mental Health or Parenting.
Experience of working within a Children’s Centre.
PEEP for practitioners.
Experience of working with early years settings and schools.
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PRINCIPAL TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
SENIOR FAMILY PRACTITIONER
1.
Hours of Work
18.5 hours per week
2.
Duration of Contract
Permanent
3.
Holidays
30 days per year plus Bank Holidays (pro rata). Some annual leave will need
to be taken at the Christmas period, when the HQ building closes.
4.
Salary
£22,000 per annum (pro rata)
5.
Method of Pay
Salaries are paid by direct debit into the staff member’s nominated bank
account on the 15th day of each month.
6.
Place of Work
To work across the West Wiltshire Cluster.
7.
Benefits
The organisation has an occupational sick leave and sick pay scheme. We
operate family friendly policies including dependency leave and job share and
part-time working opportunities. We have a comprehensive benefits scheme
which includes an employer’s contribution to pension of up to 6%, a life
assurance scheme and childcare vouchers.
8.
Trade Unions
The organisation has a recognition agreement with Unite.
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