About the role
The Kinship Team at Hillingdon plays a vital role in supporting the borough's kinship families, with a strong focus on Special Guardianship arrangements. As a Family Support Worker, you’ll be instrumental in enhancing our support offer by delivering meaningful one-to-one interventions, facilitating group activities, and ensuring early help for families in crisis.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of kinship carers and their children by delivering direct, practical support and working closely with multi-agency partners.
Key Responsibilities
1. Act as the first point of contact for all Kinship families, especially Special Guardians, offering responsive support and guidance.
2. Conduct home visits and provide telephone-based support to carers, particularly during times of crisis or elevated need.
3. Assist the social work team in identifying family support needs both pre- and post-court order, and contribute to support planning and assessments.
4. Work directly with families on parenting approaches (e.g., PACE), life journey work, and other interventions tailored to their needs.
5. Monitor and track kinship placements to reduce the risk of breakdown, escalating safeguarding concerns where necessary.
6. Coordinate and co-facilitate monthly kinship coffee mornings and larger community events for carers and their children.
7. Maintain accurate and up-to-date electronic case records and data, using ICS and spreadsheets for monitoring and reporting purposes.
8. Build strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams, external agencies, and support services to provide holistic care for families.
9. Support the development and distribution of quarterly communications for kinship families, keeping them informed of local and national resources.
10. Engage with parents of children in Kinship care sensitively, using mediation skills to foster positive outcomes.
What We’re Looking For
Qualifications:
1. GCSEs including English or NVQ Level 3 in a relevant field.
2. A recognised qualification in a related discipline (e.g., Social Work, Youth Work, Child and Family Development).
Experience:
1. Proven experience working with children and families, particularly those facing complex challenges.
2. Familiarity with Child in Need and Child Protection processes.
3. Experience in coordinating events and facilitating group work is desirable.
Skills and Attributes:
1. Excellent organisational and communication skills.
2. Strong team player with the ability to manage an individual caseload.
3. Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks and statutory responsibilities under the Children Act and Special Guardianship Regulations.
4. Competence in using IT systems for case management and reporting.
5. A proactive, compassionate, and solution-focused approach.
Other Requirements:
1. Full UK driving licence and access to own vehicle.
2. Willingness to work flexibly, including some early mornings and evenings as required.
Why Join Us?
1. Be part of a supportive and passionate team making a real difference in your community.
2. Develop your skills through access to relevant training and professional development.
3. Help shape and improve the borough’s kinship support service through innovative practice and service user feedback.
Key Performance Indicators
1. Delivery of timely, outcome-focused interventions with SMART targets.
2. Evidence of consistent, high-quality record keeping.
3. Measurable impact in improving family stability and reducing placement breakdowns.
4. Regular communication and engagement with kinship families.
If you are committed to putting residents first and have a passion for supporting families, we would love to hear from you.
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