Role: Family Group Conference & Family Network Coordinator
Location: Ilford, Redbridge
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
As the Family Group Conference & Family Network Coordinator, your role is closely linked to the Family Help Team, serving as a vital point of contact. You will offer consultation on cases and promote family networks and family group conference meetings. To ensure effective collaboration, you will be based with the Family Help Team one day a week, fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork.
Key Responsibilities:
* Develop good working relationships with all social work teams to ensure a coordinated approach to FGCs and Family Network Meetings is in the best interest of children and their families.
* Exercise a high degree of independence, initiative, and expertise to coordinate meetings that bring families together, utilising and including community members and professionals to make and agree on safe plans for children and young people within their network. This will include preparing relevant professionals for the meeting and assisting them with producing clear and concise information about concerns and potential resources for the family.
* Manage and engage with a complex and challenging workload, including multiple risk factors and multi-agency input in complex family situations.
* Recognise and manage conflicting values and ethical dilemmas, using supervision and multi-agency partnerships to ensure FGCs are family led. This will include undertaking individual home visits and office-based work and ensuring that the lone worker policy is followed.
* Ensure that children and young people are involved in the FGC and Family Network Meeting process, enable them to attend the meetings and use a creative approach to enable them to participate.
* Provide FGC plans for children and families supported within social care, including families requiring FGCs as part of care proceedings, by devising bespoke plans that enable children to remain in a safe environment within the family network.
* Ensure all family members can participate fully in the FGC or Family Network Meeting process using various communication techniques. This will ensure the FGC responds appropriately to the needs of families from diverse backgrounds and is in line with the council’s anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive, and EDI policies.
* Ensure that safeguarding procedures are adhered to, recognise and take action regarding the safety of children where concerns and risks are identified, and arrange alternative arrangements for those excluded. This will include working with children and families to create and identify a plan for reunification following the separation of children from their families where appropriate.
* Forward plans to family members and relevant professionals within service-agreed timescales, ensuring agreement and/or disagreement is recorded within the plan from the family’s and/or professionals’ perspectives.
Benefits of the Role:
* Competitive salary in line with market rates.
* Comprehensive induction and training programmes.
* Supportive team environment with access to supervision and professional development opportunities.
* Generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme.
What We’re Looking For:
* Qualifications: A recognised social work qualification (BA, MA, DipSW or equivalent) and current registration with Social Work England.
* Experience: Significant post-qualification experience in children’s social care, particularly within a safeguarding or assessment context. Previous experience in a senior or supervisory role is highly desirable.
* Knowledge: Strong understanding of relevant legislation, including the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children, and other statutory guidance related to safeguarding and child welfare.
* Skills: Excellent communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills, with the ability to engage effectively with children, families, and multi-agency professionals. Strong report-writing abilities are essential.
* Empathy: A compassionate and child-centred approach, with a commitment to promoting the rights and welfare of vulnerable children and families.
* Teamwork: Proven ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, building positive relationships with colleagues and partner agencies.
* Technology: Proficient in using electronic case management systems and other IT tools for maintaining records and reporting.
How to Apply:
If you are an experienced Family Group Conference & Family Network Coordinator with a passion for safeguarding and a desire to lead and inspire a dedicated team, we would love to hear from you.
Please note, this job is managed by Sanctuary Personnel on behalf of its client. If you apply, Sanctuary Personnel will receive your details and be in touch to progress your application.
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