Independent Family Group Conference & Lifelong Links Coordinator
| Posting date: | 23 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £38,220 to £40,777 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Competitive |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 March 2026 |
| Location: | Oxford, OX1 1ND |
| Company: | Oxfordshire County Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | OCC/TP/848/1809 |
Summary
About Us
Are you passionate about empowering children, young people, and families to create meaningful and lasting change? Do you believe in the power of family‑leddecisionmaking? If so, this rewarding role could be your next step.
About the Role
We are expanding our Family Group Conferencing Service as part of Oxfordshire’s Families First initiative.As anIndependentFGC & Lifelong Links Coordinator, you will play a vital role in helping families cometogether, develop their own bespoke solutions, and strengthen relationships thatsupportchildren now and into the future.
This is a unique opportunity to work creatively andindependently, engaging with families from all backgrounds andsupportingthem through challenging but transformative conversations.
You willsupportwith the following:
- Facilitating Family Group Conferences and Lifelong Links meetings that place families at the heart of planning.
- Working directly with children, young people, extended family members and their professional network.
- Helping identify and build lifelong connections for children who may be isolated or at risk.
- Managing meetings in aninclusive, empowering way - ensuring every voice is heard.
- Maintaining accurate case records and contributing to service development and research.
- Working flexibly across Oxfordshire,independentlymanaging your caseload and time.
About you
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Experienced in children’s social care or related settings.
- Confidentin group facilitation and managing complex family dynamics.
- Skilled in engaging children and young people in meaningful participation.
- Highly organised, self‑motivated and able to work autonomously.
- Committedto restorative, relational and solution‑focused practice.
- Able to work flexibly, sometimes in the evenings or at weekends.
- A car user with business insurance (due to travel across the county).
Experience in mediation, advocacy, restorative practice or Family Group Conferencing is beneficial, but not essential - we will invest in your ongoing learning and development.
Rewards and benefits
- Relocation expenses of up to £8,000
- A good to outstanding OFSTED rating
- Regular training opportunities
- A flexible, agile organisation
- A generous local government pension scheme
- 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Culture of flexible working
- Technology tosupportagile working where role permits
- Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
- 24/7 access to Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeingsupport
- Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
- Great learning and development opportunities tosupportyour ongoing development.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Annelies Henshall, Principal Social Worker: Annelies.Henshall@oxfordshire.gov.uk or Sharon Peart, Team Manager for Family Group Conferencing: Sharon.Peart@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Ourcommitmentto:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce.Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peersupport, education and safe spaces for all.
Ourcommitmentto:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a DisabilityConfidentemployer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job.We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships.We are alsocommittedto helping andsupportingthose transitioning from HM ArmedForcesto civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Ourcommitmentto:
Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council arecommittedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers tosharethiscommitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
Ourcommitmentto:
Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, jobsharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
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Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme