Family Worker

**About The Role**:
**2 full time (37hours per week) positions available in Chesil Locality (Weymouth & Portland)**

***1 **full time position **(37hours per week) **and 1 part time (18.5 hours per week) position available in Purbeck Locality**

Family Workers are responsible for the delivery of support to children, young people and families in localities, taking a whole family approach. Including but not limited to children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

The post holder will:

- Take a proactive approach to the delivery of early help and support
- Undertake whole family assessments and develop, deliver and monitor plans in partnership with families and other partners to improve outcomes for children
- Undertake 1:1, group, and outreach work
- Deliver direct work with children, young people, parents and families in the family home and other community locations
- Convene and attend team around the family meetings and reviews
- Use relevant case management systems, databases and business intelligence tools as directed by the Team Manager
- Provide information, advice and guidance to children, young people and families
- Co-work cases with other professionals including social workers

**About you**:
The post holder will be expected to have:

- Experience of working with children/young people either in a family setting or through a childcare setting either in a voluntary capacity or through formal employment.
- Experience of working with partners agencies in order to keep children and young people safe from harm.
- An understanding of child development and parenting issues
- The ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing

**Further Information**:
Join our exceptional teams in children’s services, where you’ll be fully supported and appreciated throughout your career - whether you’re newly qualified, or an experienced practitioner. In Dorset, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where every child can thrive, and we want our colleagues to do the same.

At the heart of our program is a commitment to support outcomes that matter - fostering environments where children, young people, and families not only stay together but thrive. We're dedicated to providing the essential help they need, ensuring they are surrounded by the support of their family network, and creating safe spaces both inside and outside their homes.

What sets us apart is our unwavering dedication to ensuring children in care and care leavers find stable, loving homes. This isn't just a job; it's a chance to make a lasting impact on the future of those who need it most.

We take immense pride in leading the way nationally, pioneering ground breaking initiatives that have garnered recognition from the government. Join a team of dedicated professionals in Children's Services who, in recent months and years, have set new standards in their commitment to the well-being of children and families.

Here at Dorset Council, you won't just be an employee - you'll be a vital contributor to a legacy of positive change. Be a part of a community that values your skills, appreciates your passion, and recognises the difference you can make. Join us in creating a brighter future for children, young people, and families. Your journey towards meaningful work starts here.

In July this year, the Department for Education officially announced the Families First for Children Pathfinder. Dorset has been recognised for the fantastic work with children, young people and families taking place by being selected to be one of only three initial pathfinder sites nationally, testing the delivery of key reforms across the sector. This is a fantastic opportunity and comes with central government grant funding and support which recognises the scale and ambition of the work we need to carry out.

Our focus is on supporting families to meet the needs of their children and keeping children at home where it is safe to do so. You’ll find a variety of exciting challenges, working with our children, families, and partners, in a workplace that inspires you to grow professionally and personally.

As part of our model, we have developed multi-agency locality teams bringing together colleagues from across Early Help, Children's Social Care, Educational Psychology, SEND and Inclusion services under the leadership of Heads of Locality and Strategy.

We also have truly exciting initiatives. Some examples are:

- the Pineapple Project that provides safe havens in Weymouth to help to keep young women safer when they are outside of their family home using the principles of community guardianship.
- Safeguarding Families Together; embedding specialist multi-disciplinary professionals within teams and working ‘whole family’. After successful pilots in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester the project is due to be rolled out across all localities
- In the East of the county, the first two family hubs (with more locations planned) provide visible, a