Early Help Practitioner

Job Information

Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us

We are responsible for the entire range of children’s education, health and social care services in all three boroughs. We use a Signs of Safety practice model and approach which ensures the voice of the child is at the heart of everything we do. There’s never been a better time to join AfC, we are growing our workforce, implementing new flexible working arrangements and have increased our virtual wellbeing offer.

AfC Early Help includes a range of universal, targeted and statutory services alongside commissioned services. The following services form AfC Early Help: Youth Services, Children’s Centres, Parenting programmes, Strengthening Families plus team, Family Support Service, Education Welfare Service and Youth Resilience Services that include edge of care, Youth Offending and Health and Wellbeing Services. AfC Early Help offer is based on a strong evidence best practice and is underpinned by the
assessment of need and locality model of working. Our ambition is to have a strong localised Early Help system that is well designed and led, enabled by effective partnership working, evidence based practice, is aligned to our practice model, receives local investment and commissioning across our partnerships.

About the role

The post holder will be responsible for managing a caseload supporting children, young people and families with a range of needs and risks and will provide support to children, young people and their families within the designated geographical area of either Richmond or Kingston.

The main purpose of the role is to provide early help family support interventions to prevent children and young people from requiring more specialist services, including going into care. The role will act as lead professional and coordinate and identify the most appropriate multi-agency partnerships that will achieve the best possible outcome for children and young people (team around the child). By undertaking effective assessments of children and families needs using our assessment framework, the post holder will prepare high quality SMART care plans in partnership with children, young people and families using our preferred practice model. All assessments and interventions will be recorded using our case management system. Positive changes, independance, reduced risk factors and feedback from children, young people and families are examples of effective outcomes and successes required within this role.

About you
- Educated at level 4 or above professional qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g Children and Youth, Social Care, Education)
- Experience of working with children, young people and their parents/families with safeguarding issues and additional needs
- Experience in the delivery of group work programmes with parents/families.
- Experience of working within an integrated working environment, including completing assessments and working with a range of multi-agency providers.
- Experience of effective recording, monitoring and evaluation of interventions using a wide range of tools and Management Information Systems.
- Appropriate understanding of developing and implementing effective interventions to vulnerable children and families that achieve sustainable positive outcomes.
- Experience of using ICT to communicate, manage data and present ideas to inform or influence others

About our benefits

We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:

- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
- Stable and supportive leadership
- Hybrid and mobile working (between home and work) with latest technology to facilitate this
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Holiday package upto 34 days per year with option to purchase additional leave
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- A range of staff benefits and discounts
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway

To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children

Important Information

**Right to work**: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.

**Safeguarding**: We are committed to safegu