Senior Early Help Practitioner
| Posting date: | 24 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £20,709 to £22,214 per year |
| Additional salary information: | local gov pension scheme, hybrid working |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 07 August 2024 |
| Location: | Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1AB |
| Company: | West Sussex County Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | CAFHE05301_1721838527 |
Summary
About Us
At West Sussex County Council, Early Help are ambitious for our children and our workforce. We are committed to supporting children, families, and young people to achieve their full potential. You will join an experienced leadership team at a key time when we are making major transformations, including driving forward the 'Children First' Improvement Plan. We are focused on improved service delivery with measurable outcomes for children, families, and communities.
The Early Help Service is an integral part of the Children, Young People and Learning Directorate, working collaboratively with Social Care and Education and Skills so that all children and families are accessing the right help, co-ordinated support, and protection from the most appropriate part of Children's Services. At every level, support is designed to address and reduce the problems or challenges and prevent them getting worse. Key to this is being able to build productive partnerships with the voluntary and community sector.
For further information about us and about working in Early Help at West Sussex please visit our website: www.westsussex.gov.uk/CSCR
About The Job
Salary: £20,709 to £22,214 per annum pro rata (Full time Equivalent is £41,418 to £44,428 per annum)
Working Pattern: Part time - 18.5 hours per week - 2 full days and one half day - preferably the end of the week
Contract Length: Permanent
Location: County Hall North, Horsham - hybrid working available - at least 1 day in the office following induction
Early Help ensures that children and families receive accessible and co-ordinated support when they need it. This support ranges across a continuum from early identification and preventative approaches through to more targeted help where families are experiencing more complex or multiple difficulties. At every level, support is designed to address and reduce the problems or challenges and prevent them getting worse.
You will work in partnership with the multi-agency team, children, young people and families to make decisions to ensure children are safe and receive the most appropriate support based on their needs.
You will be able to review and understand information quickly, in the fast-paced environment of the Integrated Front Door, making robust decisions to establish the next steps for families, while considering family history, the wider context and family relationships. You will be able to communicate effectively and with confidence with a range of partners and ensure complex information is shared in a consistent and concise manner, keeping children central to decision making. You will take equal responsibility alongside other managers for ensuring all aspects of the role are fulfilled, being able to be adaptable and flexible to the role demands and pressures.
Experience and Skills
Key Skills:
- Solution focussed with the ability to analyse varied and complex situations and provide forward thinking strategies and solutions that consider a variety of possible solutions and balance risks and desired outcomes.
- Highly developed communication skills in order to influence in a multidisciplinary team and communicate clearly and effectively to explain complex information to a wide range of people and negotiate and persuade others to adopt a particular course of action that they may not otherwise wish to take.
- Ability to diagnose, research, analyse and interpret complex or technical information to make effective and robust judgements and articulate recommendations taking into account the broader impacts on families and partners.
- Ability to think creatively, innovatively and laterally and to adapt to changing situations in a measured and flexible manner in order to adapt advice.
- Ability to undertake direct work with those who access or need the service in order to support individuals and work proactively as a member of the team to make an accurate assessment of needs and negotiate and implement effective plans and outcomes.
- Ability to effectively lead and supervise others and to provide coaching and mentoring when appropriate.
Qualifications and/or experience:
- Degree in a relevant profession or equivalent qualification.
- Completion of relevant post qualifying training.
- Significant experience working with children and families, with an understanding of current legislation and policy.
- Experience of working in multi-agency context, with an understanding of roles and responsibilities while maintaining a child focussed approach.
- Significant experience and understanding of the continuum of need and the ability to apply this knowledge in ensuring safeguarding children is a priority.
- Knowledge of child and adolescent development and age-appropriate behaviour.
Rewards and Benefits
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.
In addition to working within a great team and a brilliant opportunity you will receive:
For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.
Further Information
The reference number for this role is CAFHE05301.
To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and cover letter. In your cover letter outline your motivations for applying and explain how you meet the key skills listed in full and the experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, 5 years referencing and a health check. Being able to drive a car is essential due to it being a countywide service and children we care for potentially being placed out of county.
Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.
Note for Recruitment Agencies: We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you!