By Doing more than just a job

Family Intervention Practitioner

Contract: Permanent Full Time 37 hours

Salary: £23,500

Location: Wigan

How we work:

Action for children does what's right, does what's needed and does what works for children in the UK. Every year our organisation changes the lives of 390,000 children, young people and families.

Wigan Intensive Family Support Service, is a commissioned service by Wigan Council aimed at supporting families in need so that their children can remain safely at home in their care.

We work intensively with families, for up to 6 months, and would usually carry out 3-4 home visits per week to the family home, helping with routines, budgeting, safety, parenting, health and relationships. Attendance at meetings is also required. The approach of a family intervention practitioner needs to be motivational, understanding, persistent and holistic.

The service currently operates from Worsley Mesnes Methodist Church, Holt Street, off Poolstock Lane, Wigan. WN3 5HS. The roles require team members to work flexibly and across the whole borough.

Wigan commissioning has indicated an ongoing commitment to delivering intensive family support, hence these roles being advertised as permanent. However, secondment requests for fixed periods of time will be considered.

How will you make a difference?

By working in a team of 4 family intervention practitioners, you will assess families and support them to understand the changes they need to make and sustain.
Your work will usually include the improvement; this will usually take place in the family home and you will need to ensure improvements are made and sustained.
You will take direction from the supervisor and ensure adherence to the MST model.
You will ensure sustainability plans are in place for families at treatment end.
You will need excellent communication skills to work effectively with other agencies and attend multi agency meetings.
A weekly requirement to upload paperwork is required, as is attendance at group supervision.

What you'll need:

The Family Intervention Practitioners will need a professional relevant qualification (e.g. social work) or qualified to NVQ3 level in a relevant field with post qualifying experience
Demonstrate experience of working with complex families in their own homes
Demonstrate experience of dealing with safeguarding concerns and confidence in the process.
To be able to demonstrate the ability to respond to crisis and be able to plan to ensure the prevention of future of escalations
The ability to ensure records are kept up to date.
Strong planning and organisational skills
Knowledge of some of the issues that complex families face.
Competent use of IT packages

How we reward you:

Minimum 29 days' holiday (pro rata)
Flexible working, including maternity, paternity and adoption packages
Season ticket travel loans
Company pension scheme
Discounts at major high street retailers.

Plus, there's a lot more besides.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to vulnerable children's lives and to build a fulfilling and meaningful career with a leading UK children's charity.

Action for Children is committed to safer recruitment practices, designed to protect the welfare of the children and young people using our services.

For more information please contact josh.boland@actionforchildren.org.uk

Closing date Friday 20th September. Please note interviews will be held on 1st October.

Guidant is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.