Family Support Worker (SO2)
Job Description
Job Title : Family Support Worker (SO2)
Job Category : Social Care – Unqualified
Location : Thomas Hardy House, Enfield Council
Hours Per Week : 35.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £19.95
children centre staff – part of early help within children services
Purpose of the Role:
The post holder will play a key role in a multi-disciplinary team to support vulnerable families
to attend children’s centres and access support services, providing a high-quality services for
children and families (both in the community and in the families’ homes) to improve outcomes
for all children.
To work in partnership with families, parents/carers offering advice, guidance in an Early
Intervention role, to develop and enhance parenting skills.
Completing a range of assessments using the Signs of Safety and where appropriate referrals
to other services.
Safeguard and promote the well-being of children at all times.
The post holder will ensure they help deliver the Core Purpose of Children’s Centres to
improve outcomes and reduce inequalities between families with greatest need in: –
• Child development and school readiness
• Parenting aspirations and parenting skills
• Child and family health and life chances.
Individual Education and Development
• Assurance of professional knowledge as evidenced by attendance at relevant
specialist courses and demonstration of the use of techniques learned.
• To participate in Individual Performance Review and supervision ensuring that the
objectives set reflect the Service.
• Evidence of attendance at courses in order to develop skills and knowledge required
of a Family Support Worker
• To participate in the development and delivery of informal training to others with
support.
• To have responsibility for organising own workload.
• To develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
• To attend relevant meetings and special interest groups –
• To sustain a working knowledge of relevant procedures including Safeguarding
Children, SEN procedures, Child Protection and other legal frameworks.
• Covering staff absences – CC sessions and front desk duty.
To undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the grading of the post
The post holder will be required to work in partnership with parents in exploring
problems and challenges and developing goals and strategies in line with individual
needs and aspirations; clearly identifying roles and responsibilities.
• To provide support to families in a way that encourages self-confidence and
independence.
• support access to early learning through introducing play activities, promoting Early
Years Care and Education services and signposting families to the range of services
available in the community.
• To provide good quality information, advice, develop and/or signpost parents
elsewhere to training opportunities (e.g. around parenting, ESOL, basic skills,
employability and benefits support, etc) based on identified needs.
• Provide and share information to parents on the Early Years Foundation Stage and
support them in planning for their child’s development, with a particular focus on speech
and communication.
• To be an active member of the children’s centre delivery team by attending team
meetings, staff training, network meetings and taking part in special events in connection
with the programme.
• Undertake Family Support using existing and established referral and multi-agency
support procedures as frameworks and procedures for supporting families.
• Co-ordinate an effective multi-agency approach with all cases.
• Hold up to a maximum of 20 open cases,
• Work as part of a Team Around a Family, acting as lead professional where
appropriate.
• Deliver services using the principles of “Signs of Safety”.
• Ensure that the provision of outreach family support services conform to the purpose
of the job specification, with any family requirements outside of the capacity of the role are
signposted or referred to the appropriate agency.
• To undertake home visits, telephone consultations, video calls and virtual meetings
when necessary, complying with Risk Assessments.
• Working alongside the early help team from the local authority to deliver a holistic
and seamless service to families with under 5s.
• Ensuring that both professionals and families know our core business and what
services we can offer and attending team meetings and training where appropriate.
• To work as part of the Triage team on a rota basis, screening cases using the threshold
guidance and responding to and allocating cases to the early help work trays. Working
under the direction of the EH triage manager on these days.
