Family Support Practitioner (11993)

Role: Family Support Practitioner 

Salary: £23,500 per annum 

Location: Antrim (office with aspects of homeworking and working within the community) 

Contract/Hours: Fixed term/Full-time (to 30/6/25 with possible extension) - 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm but some flexibility may be required).

Interviews: please note that interviews will be held on Wednesday 15^th May 2024.

Benefits:

• A generous annual leave entitlement of 29 days PLUS bank holidays
• Up to 5 more days leave for continuous service plus the option to buy and sell leave.
• Gain professional qualifications with excellent training, and development opportunities.
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages.
• A pension with a up to a 7% employer contribution rate. Plus, if you pay in to the pension you will receive life assurance cover.
• Staff discount portal with your favourite brands.
• Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 discounts from national retailers.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help.

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

A bit about the role

Choices Family Support Service (CFSS) aims to support young people aged 10-17 years and their families to overcome and manage issues regarding mental health, family breakdown, emotional health, and difficulties regarding education. CFSS provide one to one support for young people, family work and parental support. We aim to enable young people to make positive choices and express ambitions for the future.

This is a highly rewarding role where you will be working closely with children and their families, learning about their strengths and challenges, and putting together an assessment of their needs, 

Much of Family Support Practitioners role is on an outreach basis meeting our young people and families in homes and schools across the Northern Trust area however this role primarily covers the Coleraine, Ballymoney, Magherafelt, Cookstown areas.

A Family Support Practitioner is a vital member of the team, skilled in providing a high level of professional childcare and social work practice using a wide range of therapeutic interventions.  You will support young people to overcome and better manage difficulties they are facing by assessing needs, agreeing a service plan, and reviewing on a regular basis.   

 How you'll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities of the Family Support Practitioner role are:

• Supporting young people to overcome and better manage difficulties they are facing by assessing needs, agreeing a service plan, carrying out agreed work and reviewing on a regular basis.
• Carrying out assessments and devise action plans to work towards achieving positive outcomes.
• Carrying out individual work with young people aged 10 to 17 and their parents/ carers on an outreach basis.
• Updating and maintaining digital records.
• Reporting progress and outcomes to referrers which will inform decision making on children's and their families circumstances moving forward.
• Working closely with families experiencing complex challenges, being creative in your approach with our service users who may be avoidant and resistant to your efforts.  

Let's talk about you

• Diploma in Health and Social Care Level 3 or above/equivalent related health, counselling or social care qualification or 5 years' experience working in a multi-disciplinary team providing services to families and children aged 10-17 years
• Experience of working with various issues particularly low-level mental health issues (anxiety, self-harm, low mood) and low esteem etc.
• Good working knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Access to a car & business insurance cover. The role requires daily travel out in the community ( with reasonable adjustments, if required, according to the Equality Act)
• Registration with NISCC or the willingness to register.

Good to know

Application Process

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

There are five sections to complete: Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration.

Talent Pool

We know talent when we see it. But sometimes we find the right person but not for the right job. We'd love to keep your details for when the right job comes up. Let us know if you'd rather we didn't.

Contact: Shannon Neander on shannon.neander@actionforchildren.org.uk

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.

Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.

Don't meet every single requirement?

If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.

Want to know more about Action for Children? Find us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better