Full Time 37 hours per week, Fixed Term until 30th April 2026.
Team Vision:
At the heart of everything we do are the children and families of Bristol. We will help families to achieve the change they want to see for themselves and their children. We believe that children should live with their family or someone who knows them best. We act when children need to be protected from harm and we do everything we can to make sure that children in our care and care leavers are set up for life.
Our new operating model will support us to work together to create the conditions for our teams to feel supported, have the time they need to work intensively with children and families, access good training, feel psychologically safe and listened too, whilst experiencing healthy challenge to thrive in their roles in our joint vision with children and families.
Main function/duties of the role:
To undertake support and intervention with families, providing direct support to adults and children who require intensive and coordinated family help and support to meet their needs, or where a family may be in crisis.
Lead on the intervention for those children as the lead professional and use knowledge and expertise in a range of issues that affect family functioning, to undertake assessment, planning and review, working in partnership with the family and multi-agency network to improve outcomes for children.
Support change in the family system to enable families to use existing family support systems, promoting choice and independence to prevent children from experiencing harm or abuse within their communities and families.
Practice frameworks and approaches:
In order to support families in achieving change, there are a number of different approaches and methodologies which underpin our practice in Bristol:
- Signs of Safety is the framework we use to assess and respond to harm.
- Systemic Social Work Practice provides the theories to understand the complexity of an individual’s experiences and the influence they have on their ability to make and sustain change.
- Relationship based Practice means strengthening relationships between people as well as strengthening social connections within communities.
- Contextual Safeguarding enables us to assess and respond to harm that affects children outside their families
Day in the life of a Family Help Keyworker:
The role is varied and no day is the same. You will be managing a caseload of families, and as part of this you may be carrying out specific pieces of direct work, either with the children or parents. You may be using creative activities to capture a child’s voice, or meeting with parents to explore their network.
You will be chairing Team Around the Family meetings, so you may head to a school and conduct this meeting alongside the family and professional network. You will be well supported in this role, so could head back to the neighbourhood office for 1:1 or reflective supervision. There are regular team meetings so you may start the day landing with your colleagues or connecting for peer support before your first visit.
Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.
Why Bristol City Council?
At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation.
Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.
How do I apply?
If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.
To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.
For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.
For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.
If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.
We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.
It is Bristol City Council’s practice to request references for candidates that have been offered a job. However, if you are applying for a job that requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check then we will request your references once you have been invited to an interview.
It is Bristol City Council’s practice to request references for candidates that have been offered a job. However, if you are applying for a job that requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check then we will request your references once you have been invited to an interview.
For further information, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification or alternatively, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Young people, Black and racially minoritised, Disabled, LGBTQ+ and Male candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.
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