An exciting opportunity has opened in the Emergency Duty Team based at the Criminal Justice Centre.

We are looking to recruit one Family Support Worker to be part of the team who responds out of hours to statutory emergencies and other social work matters within the childcare and adult arenas.

This is a great opportunity for a person with experience of working within child and adult safeguarding, or for someone with the aptitude and enthusiasm to learn and develop skills in a generic field of social work.

We welcome the opportunity to speak to any interested candidates so please feel free to email: jane.moran@nctrust.co.uk and they can agree a mutually agreeable time to call you.

We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.

We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

• 2 Day Induction Programme
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Local government Pension Scheme
• Heavily subsidised town centre car parking scheme
• Employee Discount Scheme
• 28 days’ annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years’ service
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Monthly quality supervision

You will be one of two Family Support Workers who work a set pattern over 7 days on a rota basis alongside Principal Social Workers (Advanced Practitioner level). Your responsibilities will include receiving and screening referrals alongside the PSWs, identifying those that meet the threshold of safeguarding and require an urgent response from a qualified worker. You will record all work completed in accordance with policy expectations, including those that are internal to the EDT.

You will receive out of hours reports of children who are missing and monitor updates on their return, again with an expectation that you have the experience to identify  when risks are such that a child missing needs to have oversight from a qualified worker. 

The Family Support Worker may at times provide focussed urgent family support to children and families with complex needs, many of whom are either on Child in Need or Child Protection Plans.

We are looking for people who are highly motivated and can work both independently and as part of a team. You will carry out a broad range of tasks deemed appropriate for the FSW grade, and whilst an ability to work independently is required all of your work will have oversight from a qualified Social Worker.

The role will be based at the criminal justice centre with some remote working. The post is an essential care user thus the right candidate needs to have access to a vehicle and be able to work out of hours, weekends and public holidays. You will receive an additional 15% for out of hours working. You will be prepared to undertake an enhanced DBS check. 

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust was established in November 2020 to deliver Children’s Services to the newly established North and West Northants County Councils. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils; this provides the organisation with unique opportunities to explore new ways of working and to be more agile and adaptable in its approach to service delivery. We are developing a culture that allows the very highest quality of professional practice to flourish and evolve, delivering at the cutting edge of new innovation.