Child and Family Worker

**About Us**
We are committed to improving our services for the children and families we support in West Sussex. You will join us as at a key time on our improvement journey. The work we have started includes establishing a new and experienced leadership team driving forward our ‘Children First’ improvement plan.

**About The Job** Salary**: £23,484 to £25,927 (Pro-rata)
**Working Pattern**: 18.5 hours per week (Part time)
**Contract Length**: Permanent
**Location**: Worthing (County Wide)

**Closing Date: 5**th** of September**

You will undertake direct work with families in a variety of ways which could include individual, group, adult and child support work, and family work. You may take part in support groups and training workshops alongside a social worker.

You will interpret complex information, for example to produce a high-quality document with mínimal guidance, or to plan, deliver and review services for the children and young people involved, ensuring services are delivered with a specific focus targeted to meet referred need.

**Experience and Skills** Key Skills**:

- Great communications and interpersonal skills
- The ability to organise and present information clearly and accurately
- Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to organise and present information clearly, concisely, and accurately
- The ability to persuade and successfully convince others of the need to take a specific course of action and gain the trust of service users.
- Ability to analyse and interpret information in order to manage casework with children / young people and their families, assessing needs, setting objectives and reviewing progress.
- Ability to engage in partnership with children/young people, their families, and other external agencies in order to effect positive and lasting change
- Ability to prioritise and manage own workload, co-ordinating a range of tasks in a clear and logical way to meet agreed deadlines
- Ability to maintain clear, accurate records of all work undertaken and produce case reports
- Sound and accurate IT skills, including report writing, maintaining accurate records, ensuring confidentiality, and protecting information.

**Qualifications and/or experience**:

- GCSE English and Maths, or equivalent qualification or experience operating at this level of literacy and numeracy.
- QCF Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (or equivalent), or demonstrable equivalent comparable experience.
- Knowledge and understanding of the development of children and young people, and age-appropriate behaviour.
- An understanding of a range of interventions that can be used with children, young people and families to achieve change.
- Significant experience of using a range of direct work interventions in working with children, young people and their families.
- Experience of providing advice and guidance to others.
- Experience of using assessment planning and reviewing processes.
- Experience of forming effective working relationships within a multi
- agency setting.
- Requirement to communicate in English with members of the public.
- Valid and full driving licence
- An understanding of systems, procedures and policies relevant to Children’s Social Care e.g. child protection and safeguarding procedures, practice and policy - **_Desirable _**:

- An understanding of the challenges associated with being a Special Guardian and looking after a child (usually a family member) that cannot live with their birth parents - **_Desirable _**:

- Experience of working in a Social Care Environment - **_Desirable _**:

- Experience of working with children/young people and their families in crisis or complex situations - **_Desirable _**

**Rewards and Benefits**
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
- **29** 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.

**Further Information**
The reference number for this role is **CAFHE03919 **.

Note for Recruitment Agencies: We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a supplier