Early Help Worker

Job Introduction

Future4Me launched Countywide in February 2019 and brought together the Council's core offer to adolescents by building on the Youth Offending Team, Youth Hub and Early Help. Situated within Children's Services, F4Me has re-designed the approach to working with young people who are at risk of entering care in late adolescence; engaged in criminal activity or at risk of exploitation/harm by individuals outside of their family. The Future4Me Team works with young people that fit the profile of need around these behaviours and circumstances as well as offering support and guidance to other professionals who have a key relationship with the young person.

Designed in a Hub and Spoke Model, the Future4Me Team comprises of the existing Youth Offending Service- including social workers and elements of the Youth Hub, together with Early Help Workers in locality teams. Working within a trauma recovery approach and addressing the causes of the presenting behaviour and vulnerabilities, through multi-disciplinary co-operation, the local authority aims to provide safe spaces for our children and protect them from extra familiar harm.

The needs of young people within the adolescent risk cohort are complex and wide ranging and are best managed through multi-agency/multi-disciplinary co-operation. These needs cannot be effectively addressed within a single agency approach and work best if supported by strong partnership and governance with all partners contributing fully. The service also provides additional resources around psychology and speech and language to ensure we address the root causes of behaviour to promote long lasting change.

This approach also provides for key risk areas, including the Joint Diversionary Panels, Child Exploitation and Missing and Youth Housing as well as an extensive community engagement offer through Youth and Community Development, Positive Future and the Restorative Justice team.

We currently have a full time, permanent, vacancy in our team covering the North Kesteven area.

This represents an exciting opportunity to join a positive and high performing service committed to effectively managing young people subject to Out of Court Disposals as well as through our Early Help work

What you'll be doing - Early Help Worker

Early Help Workers act as key workers for families with a range of needs, undertaking assessments and delivering and co-ordinating interventions directly to children and their families. As a part of the Future4Me team you will work on a one-to-one basis, delivering evidence-based interventions in a trauma sensitive way.

Early Help Workers also contribute to holistic family work for children subject to Child Protection and Child in Need Plans and those looked after by the local authority. 

You will be required to travel and work in a timely and flexible manner to undertake the duties of the role and there is some element of evening and weekend work where cases require it. 

This can be a demanding role however one that brings great job satisfaction. 

What We're Looking For

• A NVQ LEVEL 3 or equivalent qualification
• Ability to undertake family assessments, develop plans and deliver needs lead packages of support.
• Ability to act as a Lead Professional for a family where appropriate with responsibility for the day to day implementation and coordination of the family plan.
• The ability to demonstrate the ability to effectively engage with families, build relationships which will enable accurate assessments and plans to be developed which will improve outcomes for children.
• Knowledge/ understanding of child development, adolescent risk-taking behaviour and trauma-informed approaches.
• To be a key team player and work closely with staff members and specialist workers from other agencies, local authorities and organisations.

We understand that you may have questions or simply want to speak to one of the team to find out more about working here. Simply contact Sharon Bryan, Practice Supervisor, on 07909906644 or sharon.bryan@lincolnshire.gov.uk and she'll be in touch as soon as possible.

Interviews will be held week commencing 14th July.

Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check.

All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. 

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary.  Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Fluency Duty 

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Politically Restricted Position

Under The Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as amended by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, this post has been identified as 'politically restricted'. Further information on the Council’s Politically Restricted Posts Policy can be viewed here.