Family Support Practitioner – Early Help – AR

Family Support Practitioner – Early Help

Location: Hammersmith & Fulham
Service: Early Help / Family Support
Reporting to: Family Support Manager
Grade: SO1 – PO2

About the Role

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is seeking an experienced Family Support Practitioner to join its Early Help service. The role provides targeted, preventative support to children, young people and families experiencing a range of complex challenges.

You will manage your own caseload, complete assessments, provide direct family support and coordinate Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings. The overall aim is to help families make positive, sustainable changes and prevent difficulties from escalating to statutory Children’s Social Care.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of families and act as their main point of contact within Family Support.
• Complete Early Help Assessments and identify the needs, strengths and risks within each family.
• Develop and review 1:1 support plans, agreeing clear outcomes with families and monitoring progress.
• Lead and coordinate Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings with families and partner agencies.
• Undertake direct work with children, young people, parents and carers in family homes, children’s centres and community settings.
• Support families experiencing issues including:
  • Mental health difficulties
  • Domestic abuse
  • Drug and alcohol misuse
  • Housing and financial difficulties
  • Family breakdown, bereavement and crisis
  • Parenting difficulties and challenging behaviour
  • SEND and disability
  • School attendance and risk of exclusion
  • Young carers
  • Social isolation and lack of family networks
  • No Recourse to Public Funds
  • Extra-familial harm and harmful practices
• Ensure the voice and needs of the child remain central to all interventions.
• Work collaboratively with schools, CAMHS, health services, police, children’s social care and voluntary-sector organisations.
• Build positive relationships with families and empower them to develop strategies that create lasting change.
• Maintain accurate and timely case records, service plans and reports in accordance with Council policies.
• Monitor outcomes and provide evidence of the impact of Family Support interventions.
• Work independently and use professional judgement when dealing with complex family situations.
• Share knowledge and good practice with colleagues and contribute to wider service development.

Essential Experience

• Substantial experience working in Early Help, Family Support or a closely related children’s service.
• Experience managing your own family caseload.
• Experience completing Early Help Assessments.
• Experience organising and/or leading Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings.
• Experience supporting vulnerable children, young people and families with complex needs.
• Experience working effectively with multiple agencies and professional partners.
• Experience producing professional reports and maintaining accurate case records.
• Experience building effective relationships with families and professionals.

Essential Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.
• Excellent organisation and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of autonomy.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Good professional judgement, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to work sensitively with vulnerable families.

Qualifications

A relevant professional qualification in Children’s Services, Health, Education, Family Support or a related field is desirable.

Safeguarding

The successful candidate must be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and must work in accordance with Council safeguarding policies and procedures.

The role requires a child-centred approach, ensuring that the needs, views and welfare of children remain at the heart of all family support interventions.

Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who is:

• Compassionate and empathetic
• Resilient when working with complex circumstances
• Creative and solution-focused
• Confident working independently
• Collaborative and able to build strong professional networks
• Flexible and adaptable
• Committed to achieving positive outcomes for children and families

The successful candidate will have a genuine commitment to Early Help, preventative intervention and improving outcomes for children and families.