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The Early Help Service is an integral part of the Children, Young People and Learning Directorate. We work with children, families, and young people to help ensure that every child is supported to achieve his or her potential. Working collaboratively with Social Care so that all children and families are accessing the right help and protection from the most appropriate part of Children’s Services.

Early Help ensures that children and families receive accessible and co-ordinated support when they need it.

Salary: £28,371 - £31,099
Working Pattern: Full Time (37 hours)
Contract Length: Permanent
Location: Working across Arun area
Interview Date: 9th May 2023

Closing Date: 30th April 2023

The Family Support Key Worker is a lead professional role to deliver intensive, focused support to families with complex issues. This is achieved by working closely and intensively with whole families, using a single family plan with agreed outcomes, that the family and professionals will work towards.
By providing this support we will improve outcomes for children and reduce dependence on high cost, specialist support services.

The successful applicant will have strong leadership skills and the ability to develop and build capacity in the team working around the family, in order that team members are able to work effectively with families with multiple, complex issues. Being both adaptable and flexible you will enjoy the challenge this role will give you to meet service needs where you will be able to work well in changing situations and embrace new ways of working positively and effectively.

Key Skills:

• Ability to listen to adults and children who have experienced trauma and have complex needs and to use excellent interpersonal skills in order to build an effective relationship with the families
• Analytical and judgmental skills in order to interpret complex situations and information from families to make assessments
• Excellent crisis management skills with the ability to recognize the individual needs of families
• Ability to create an environment where families are empowered to make positive change
• The ability to build rapport quickly with people participating in services and remain up to date with changes in best practice and available support mechanisms
• Ability to accurately record information in excel spreadsheets and web databases. Ability to use a variety of screening tools

Qualifications and/or experience:

• Relevant qualification, degree level preferably, in a relevant subject, or demonstrable experience in a paid or unpaid capacity of providing support to people in stressful and difficult situations
• Demonstrable experience of working with families in crisis in order to provide support, especially those with complex and chronic difficulties
• Experience of interpreting families’ needs and assisting families to access appropriate support services
• Experience of working in a team environment and multi-agency working
• Experience of working within a frame of confidentiality
• Experience of applying relevant legislation, policies and procedures to individual pieces of work
• Valid and full driving licence with access to a vehicle.

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:

• A competitive salary
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays
• A generous pension scheme
• Training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring
• Flexible working
• A range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers with the opportunity to save over £1,000 (Including: Argos, Samsung, Asos, B&Q and many more)
• Free access to employee assistance programmes
• Discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres
• A range of commuting and business travel discounts and initiatives

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.

The reference number for this role is CAFHE04163 .

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Laura Pett Richards at [email protected] for issues or queries regarding your application please contact [email protected].

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 SWE Registration, DBS check, 5 years referencing and a health check.

West Sussex County Council is an equal opportunities employer committed to promoting an environment that is inclusive and free from all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination and values the diversity of its people. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and take every possible step to ensure that no individual will be disadvantaged.

For information regarding your eligibility to apply for this role under our Disability or Veteran’s Guaranteed Interview Scheme, this can be found on our application help page.