Job Introduction
The Family Solutions team are committed to improving the outcomes for families, children, young people and the wider community, supporting all those we work with to reach their potential. Our vision is to promote the wellbeing and resilience of families with children from conception to 17, in a timely way by offering high quality and effective services.
We are looking for an Early Help Coordinator to join the Chatham Hub to:
- Promote the Early Help Framework/Strategy and multi-agency working together with best practice and available resources to relevant agencies in an area of Medway.
- Ensure the delivery in practice is ‘good to outstanding’ through a robust quality assurance framework for learning and development programme.
- Provide effective coordination of Early Help assessments by supporting and guiding the workforce in the use of the Early Help processes including leading on some Early Help assessments and plans and attending TAF and step down meetings as required.
- Support the children and family hubs and satellites across Medway and the bringing together practitioners from across the children and young people’s workforce to support an individual child or young person and their family.
- Be the point of contact for Early Help and pathways into appropriate services and to inform the development of new electronic processes, documents, training and quality assurance for Early Help framework in Medway ensuring early help is inspection ready.
- Quality assure the EH documents being completed by EH leads across Medway and implement the learning through audits into the training delivered.
- Contribute to the monitoring of performance management information on Early Help assessments, plans and progress ensuring the data is accurate and themes are identified.
- Develop a knowledge of available services and interventions to support partners in their delivery of Early Help and to use this information to inform the development of the Family Information Services Directory and the commissioning of services to meet gaps in provision.
- Support the development of the Lead Professional Forum across Medway.
- Develop and deliver quarterly Medway wide and local area networking meetings held alternately, comprising specialist speakers and local EH leads and other partners likely to be able to support knowledge and interventions.
About You
- You will hold an NVQ 4 in working with Families and multiple and complex needs or another relevant discipline, together with GCSEs grade 5 or above in English and Maths (or equivalent).
- You will have knowledge and demonstrable experience of working with vulnerable children, young people and families in an early help service.
In return we offer you
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Generous local government pension scheme package
- Access to wider training and development qualifications
- Flexible working scheme
- Travel plan discounts
- Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
- Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
Our organisation
Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.
Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.
We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.
Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.
Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.
When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.
The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:
Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.
Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.
Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.
Family Solutions are seeking a Early Help Coordinator to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.
If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager please contact Nikki Lloyd on 07736 924078 or 01634 338847
Important Information
Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile
Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement
Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.
For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.
If you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.
All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation/correspondence in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Resourcing Team on 01634 332878.
