Job title: Family Help Worker
Salary: £27,711 - £30,060
Hours: 37
Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2026
Location: Various locations across the City
As a Family Help Worker you’ll thrive on supporting families, early in the life of the problem. You will lead on early help plans and utilise the Leeds Practice Model in your day-to-day practice. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team which will include the police, domestic abuse, mental health, substance use and SEND coordinators, you will take a holistic approach to supporting families and you will be at the forefront of innovative, early help practice in Leeds!
Whilst these roles are currently funded until March 2026, there is a possibility of funding post this date which will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Family Help Worker, you will bring to the role:
- The ability to contribute to and lead formulations and early help plans, within a multiagency context where families are identified as in need of early help. Working with the whole family, to deliver individualised packages of support within family homes or communities, to enable positive outcomes and avoid the need for statutory intervention.
- The ability to utilise the Leeds Practice Model to enable effective formulation, intervention, planning and ongoing evaluation of a family’s needs to achieve positive goal-based outcomes.
- The ability to engage with families in a positive, respectful and responsive manner using a restorative and relational approach
- An understanding of child/young person’s developmental needs and an ability to develop interventions and plans accordingly accessing other specialist advice and intervention as required.
About the role
As our next Family Help Worker you will be integral to the developments of our new Family Hubs. This is an exciting time for Early Help in Leeds as we begin to deliver our multi-disciplinary approach to supporting families, early in the life of the problem. Building on what we know works, you will work closely with a team of people from different agencies to ensure families get the right help, from the right people at the right time.
You will support the delivery of evidence-based parenting programmes and develop a partnership approach across the locality in which you will be based. You will be skilled in developing relationships with families and professionals and will take a restorative approach to engaging families and key stakeholders.
The role is integral to our Early Help Service and you will be key to the Family Hub model of delivery. This is an exciting time to join Early Help Services in Leeds and be a part of the new Family Hub delivery Model!
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Lyndsey Mortimer, Service Delivery Manager via e mail Lyndsey.mortimer@leeds.gv.uk or Gail Whiting, Locality Lead via e mail gail.whiting@leeds.gov.uk
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job Purpose Working as part of the Early Help team to provide a high quality and comprehensive Family Help service within one of the Family Hubs in accordance with the organisational needs, policy, and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.
Working with families on an individual basis and in group settings apply a Think Family Work Family approach where there are children aged 0-18 accessing universal services &/or in need of family help (and up to 25 where there are special educational needs or disabilities or where there is a specific duty of care)
Responsibilities
- Contribute to and lead formulations and early help plans, within a multiagency context where families are identified as in need of early help. Working with the whole family, to deliver individualised packages of support within family homes or communities, to enable positive outcomes and avoid the need for statutory intervention.
- Utilise the Leeds Practice Model to enable effective formulation, intervention, planning and ongoing evaluation of a family’s needs to achieve positive goal-based outcomes.
- Work in accordance with relevant city strategies including the Early Help Strategy, Children and Young People’s Plan, Children and Young people’s Social Care strategic plans, the Supporting Families Framework, the Best Start Strategy and the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.
- Contribute to and manage an appropriate caseload, co-ordinate the planning, development, implementation, and review of individual support plans and manage, prioritise, and respond to families with urgent needs.
- Engage with families in a positive, respectful and responsive manner using a restorative and relational approach.
- Have an understanding of child/young person’s developmental needs and develop interventions and plans accordingly accessing other specialist advice and intervention as required.
- Attend Child Protection Conferences, Core Group Meetings, court proceedings or other relevant meetings as required and contribute to the assessment and care planning for children/young people and families with support and guidance.
- Contribute to and lead on early help registration, assessment, plan, and review within meaningful time scales.
- Be appropriately responsible for the safety and welfare of the children/young people in your care, working as part of a team in providing a safe environment for the children/young people and families in all settings.
- Maintain accurate, meaningful, and up to date records and ensure necessary information is shared appropriately, accurately, and concisely in line with current guidance, accessing and fully utilising appropriate electronic recording systems.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to support and assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Responsibility for opening and securing buildings, where appropriate and necessary.
- Actively engage in own professional development through the early help workforce development plan and participation in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Work within a multi-agency context, working with health, education, social care, youth services, police and communities ensuring all relevant agencies are involved in assessment and plans.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies, procedures and practice in relation to e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications NVQ qualification at level 3 or above approved by the relevant sector skills body in one or more of the following areas: Early Years childcare & /or education, Health, Social Care, Youth Work, or Adult Learning support.
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas and travel throughout Leeds City Council boundaries, moving location within the service working at different sites /areas depending on need.
- Able to work flexible hours.
- Able to respect sensitive and confidential information.
- Able to use IT systems including Microsoft packages, e.g. word, excel and databases.
- Able to use management information systems e.g. Mosaic, SCMS, Core Plus.
- Able to plan/prepare and implement a range of family support interventions.
- Able to work independently, using your own initiative and managing your own time effectively.
- Able to communicate effectively with children and young people, parents and carers and work in partnership with parents, at all times respecting their views, valuing their experience and building on their strengths.
- Understanding of challenges faced by disadvantaged families.
- Understanding of effective assessment and formulation processes
- Understanding of child protection issues and safeguarding.
- Understanding of problematic behaviour and strategies of intervention.
- Awareness of cultural diversity and the challenges associated with different geographical areas of the city.
- Knowledge about the developmental needs of children and young people appropriate to the service area.
- Understanding of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality and data protection
- Understanding of the importance of multi -agency and multidisciplinary relationships and partnership working
- Experience of paid or unpaid work with children, young people and families in a community setting which may include needs around learning, behavioural and emotional difficulties.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
- Ability to drive
- Knowledge of current policies in relation to children (as above)
- Experience of working with children, young people and families which may include needs around learning, behavioural and emotional difficulties.
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