Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Family Relationship Coordinator - 37 hours
Strategic team/Directorate	Childrens Services
Service	Family Help
Business unit	Family Help – Child in Need
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Team Manager (Child in Need)
Accountable to (line manager)	Team Manager (Child in Need)
Salary grade	Grade I
JE ref	CSERV064

1. Key purpose of job

To directly support with the effective delivery of the Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) Service in Torbay.
To provide a high quality and effective service that responds to the needs of children, young people and families in a timely manner and within statutory guidelines, policies and standards.
To lead, supervise, appraise, develop and manage a team of Family Relationship Practitioners that is embedded in the Child in Need Teams and is responsible for the delivery of individual FGDM meetings.
To hold a small complex caseload and directly deliver FGDM meetings in line with the expectation of Family Relationship Practitioners.
To meet all desired ethos relating to FGDM meetings.
To promote the continuing professional development of all staff being supervised.
To ensure that all activities are carried out within delegated budgets.
To provide regular evaluative reports to Senior Leadership Team regarding the impact of FGDM for children and families in Torbay.
To support the Council in ensuring that all children in Torbay have access to FGDM meetings.
Support the training and preparation of multi-agency professionals for FGDM involvement.
The organisation and co-ordination of FGDM meetings as a case holding worker.
Evaluation of process and outcomes from both FGDM meetings and multi-agency professional meetings.
Raising awareness and practice standards with regard to child and family focus resolutions.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

To work towards all children and families open to Children’s Services having access to FGDM meeting.
To support families to care for their children.
To support children to remain in parental care.
Use performance data and feedback from complaints to inform business planning.
Drive the development of integrated working within and across teams for the benefit of children, young people and their families to ensure those who receive support experience this as a seamless process.
Improve the quality of management practice by promoting and creating a learning environment which prioritises professional development and is rooted in Research in Practice.
Improve outcomes for children and young people by the effective use of performance information and data.
Ensure that the wishes and feelings of all children and young people are obtained and recorded.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times.
Responsible for the initiation of appropriate safeguarding action to protect children and young people at risk of significant harm.
To promote, organise, co-ordinate and take referrals for FGDM meetings across Torbay.
To offer training and consultancy with regard to FGDM meetings to a wide range of multi-agency professionals.
To work directly with children, young people and families, to identify and invite those who should attend the FGDM meetings and to prepare everyone accordingly.
To be responsible for the effective coordination of up to 5 Family Help Practitioners.
To ensure that the delivery of services is outcome driven and reflects the wishes and feelings of children, young people and families.
Liaison with multi agency professionals to promote FGDM meetings and ensure roles, responsibilities, expectations and contributions are clearly organised and understood.
To accurately maintain records on all cases as required in accordance with an open access to records policy.
To collate quantitative information on FGDM meetings.
To be responsible for seeking feedback from both children, young people, families and professionals involved in FGDM meetings, for ensuring that the feedback is collated and integrated into service objectives and plans and that evaluative reports that analyse and evaluate FGDM are produced.
To champion FGDM to other professionals, managers etc. as required.
To lead the application of research and best practice evidence via learning and development, individual supervision and team meetings.
To be accountable for the performance of Family Relationship Practitioners and drive the delivery of improved outcomes as measured by an agreed set of indicators.
To ensure that the inputting and updating of electronic client records by staff is both appropriate and timely.
To engender a performance culture within the team that is inquisitive but is also rigorous in offering challenge so that improvements can be made.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

There are no budgetary responsibilities.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

To directly line manage a team of 5 fte Family Relationship Practitioners that are embedded in the Child in Need Teams.
Enable the continuing professional development of staff by ensuring that all team members are given ‘protected time’ to pursue learning opportunities. Through this process ensure that appropriate national professional standards/competencies are being met and monitored.
Recruit, retain, motivate and train team members. Ensure safe recruitment policies are followed.
Ensure that team members keep a record of their learning.
Act with openness, honesty, integrity, instilling a clear sense of direction and purpose, priority and pace. Coordinate work in an inclusive way to deliver operational objectives.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

Post will work directly with children and families.

7. Physical demands of the post

Normal physical effort.

8. Specific resources used by the post

Use of mobile office technology as part of agile working i.e. laptops, tablets and smart phones.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

Partners across Social Care, Health, the police and the VCS as well as children, parents and extended family members.

Internal

Working with staff at all levels within the Council.

10. Other duties

To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
This post is office based at Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
The post is eligible for hybrid working.
As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Family Relationship Coordinator - 37 hours
Strategic team/Directorate	Childrens Services
Service	Family Help
Business unit	Family Help – Child in Need

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

Proven problem solving skills – the ability to identify causes, make objective and informed judgements that demonstrates emotional resilience and balance.
Ability to appraise and motivate staff in a way that ensures compliance with policies but also enables individuals to develop.
Ability to work effectively with colleagues and partners across Torbay.
Ability to plan, organise and use resources effectively and efficiently.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Ability to implement anti-discriminatory practice and styles in all areas of work.
Understanding of effective management practices, particularly as they relate to managing a team.
Self-awareness and understanding of own strengths and areas for improvement.
Effective influencing, negotiating and advocacy skills.
Ability to use standard computer applications and a willingness to acquire new skills in a timely manner.
Experiences of planning and facilitating training and meetings.
Experience working with Children’s rights and anti-oppressive practice.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

Formal FGDM training and/or having facilitated FGDM meetings previously.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

A working knowledge of Children’s Rights and anti-oppressive practices.
Knowledge and understanding of the full range of activities delivered by the Authority and partners in relation to children, young people and families.
Ability to demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities.
Ability to prioritise and coordinate the work of others.

Desirable knowledge

N/A

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Experience of managing or supporting others and assuring compliance to policy and procedures.
Experience of working under pressure and making robust evidenced informed decisions.
Significant experience of working with children, young people, parents and carers.
Evidence of having delivered improved outcomes and impact for children and young people.
Understanding and experience of performance monitoring and performance management techniques to drive service improvement.
Using case recording systems.

Desirable experience and achievements

N/A

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

GCSE / O level Grade C or equivalent in English and Maths.
Ability to complete the Essential Skills and Values Training (Three Day) for FGC Coordinators within x12 months of appointment.
Ability to complete an Accredited FGC Coordinator programme within two years of appointment.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

Any social work, teaching, mediation or other related qualifications.
Essential Skills and Values Training (Three Day) for FGC Coordinators.
Be an accredited FGC Coordinator.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
Ability to accommodate hybrid working.