Job Introduction
Do you like working with Adolescents 12-17 years who are at risk of coming into care? Do you love fast paced crisis intervention work and helping young people and their parents to work together to find solutions to their own difficulties? If so a rare vacancy for a Family Support Worker post in the S.T.E.P team is for you and we would like to hear from you!
S.T.E.P are based within the wider Family Assessment and Support Team (FAST) and work intensively with 10 families where the child due to family breakdown, is at risk of coming into care. The team of 2 Family Support Workers and a Primary Mental Health and Wellbeing worker, led by a Senior Social Worker works with adolescent children assessed by MASH to be on the edge of Care.
Individual plans of support are developed with the family at an initial Signs of Safety meeting which can include bespoke wellbeing support to children and adults and access to innovative resources such as a therapeutic Horse Care project . The team work with other agencies e.g. Schools, CAMHs, YOT, Emergency LAC panel and the Family Group Conference service, to reduce the risk of the child becoming Looked After.
Work is focussed on short term intensive support over 16 weeks to address the immediate crisis and to build resilience and supportive relationships within the family network in order to sustain or maintain the child being at home. The small caseload enables the team to offer responsive support to both parents and child which includes some evening and weekend support too due to Family Support workers participation in the FAST evening and weekend rotas which runs 365 days of the year . This rota system attracts an Alternative Working Pattern payment of 5% on top of the basic salary to acknowledge the alternate weekend pattern. Workers have a mid- week rest day to reflect the alternate weekend pattern. This can therefore be an attractive role for workers seeking midweek rest days.
This opportunity to be part of a regular weekend team enables you to gain experience of weekend support to the most vulnerable children across the wider CSC service where risks are high at home .
Main Responsibility
- Working alongside the Senior Social worker to support adolescents and their parents to continue to live at home or return home if living apart due to family breakdown.
- Direct work with children and parents to explore the current crisis and work towards solutions to reduce risk of children becoming Looked After
- Participating in multi-agency meetings with the child and family, developing safety plans to address presenting concerns
- Working with the Family Group Conference Service to progress to a conference for all children to build networks and family/ friends support
- Maintain case records on LCS system within current recording guidance and providing written and verbal reports to other agencies as required
- Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to share knowledge, develop team skills and contribute to the overall development of the team
- Participate in a 365 day rota working mainly 9-5pm shifts with max 4 x 1-9pm late shifts pc/m with a midweek rest day and alternate weekends off.
- Work a minimum of 2-3 bank holidays throughout the year for which double time/lieu day is paid.
The Ideal Candidate
- Experience, enthusiasm and creative energy to work with teenagers and good understanding of the transition from childhood to adolescence /adulthood is essential.
- Knowledge/ facilitation of Parenting programmes’ in adolescence e.g. ‘Who’s in Charge’, ‘Triple P teen ‘ is desirable
- Enhanced DBS, driving license and a car user
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to engage adults and children in crisis
- Good IT , verbal, written communication skills
Package Description
We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes Council, including:-
- Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates of 19.7%
- 27 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years
- Holiday Purchase Scheme
- Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, Apprenticeship Programmes (junior and senior), coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Health Cashplan
- MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
- SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
- Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles)
- Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs)
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements
- Childcare Subsidy
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes is a diverse, multi cultural, adrenaline packed expanding city with so much to offer on its door step. From beautiful open spaces, a busy theatre district, large shopping centre to a number of cultural and leisure facilities.
Milton Keynes Council has an array of responsibilities, such as: education, housing, highways and social services. Altogether, the council provides over 240 services to the citizens of Milton Keynes, and to meet such an extensive and diverse range of challenges we must be innovative and dynamic to provide services successfully to meet the increasing demands that will accompany the growth of Milton Keynes. How better to contribute to that continued success than through a unique and rewarding career with us. Here at Milton Keynes Council, we pride ourselves on modelling our values, that were co-created with colleague. We are dedicated, respectful and collaborative as we strive every day to make a difference to local people and the community we serve. If you share our values and want to experience a fulfilling job measured on outcomes and results with great work-life balance, make a move to Milton Keynes Council.
