ROLE TITLE: Outreach Worker
REPORTING TO: Family Centre Manager
BASED: Spelthorne Family Centres - Stanwell Family Centre
HOURS: Part Time – 30 Hours per week
SALARY: £16.90 per hour (£26,364 per annum pro rata, FTE £31,637 per annum )
Surrey Care Trust is a local charity that helps people to improve their skills for life, work and learning through counselling, education, mentoring and volunteering. Our programmes support disadvantaged families in improving their chances in life. Through our programmes we are enabling people throughout Surrey to overcome the disadvantage of low skills, poor educational achievement, limited opportunities and tough financial circumstances.
Work Context
The multi-agency approach of Family Centres is at the heart of Surrey County Councils Effective Family Resilience and Early Help Strategy. Family Centres play a central role in providing Early Help, in improving outcomes for all children and young people 0-19 (25yrs with additional needs), and in reducing inequalities in outcomes between the most disadvantaged children and the rest. Family Centres provide access to high quality Early Help and targeted services, health, family support and employment related services. All services developed ensuring that the needs of children are paramount. Each Family Centre is intended to become the first port of call for families in need or requiring additional support with the challenges that parents face every day bringing up their children
Our Vision
Surrey to be a place where vulnerable and excluded families are given the opportunity, skills and support to achieve their potential and make a positive contribution.
Our Mission
To tackle disadvantage, social exclusion and hardship in local communities. To reach out to families to equip them with the skills to improve their economic situation, to reduce social isolation and break the cycle of disadvantage.
Overall purpose of the role
To work in partnership with other staff to ensure all families working with the centre feel appropriately supported and receive the right help and support needed to enable them to appropriately encourage and promote the development of their child/ren’s health needs; the positive development of their social, emotional well-being and ongoing learning and developmental needs (i.e. ensuring children receive the best possible start in life).
To provide targeted Early Help support and specialist services to families in Spelthone Borough and ensure effective and timely support is offered in line with the Surrey’s ‘Effective Family Resilience’ Framework.
To work in close partnership with professionals, to provide co-ordinated help to identified children, young people and their families including those at risk of social exclusion and those at risk of not meeting their milestones.
To provide appropriate outreach and family support to referred families; assessing need and subsequently reviewing the impact of support and interventions provided.
Work Context:
A multi-agency approach and ‘Effective Family Resilience’ Framework is at the heart of the Family Centres Support programme, which aims to provide effective targeted support to children and young people 0-19 (25yrs) and their families. As a result, Family Centres will play a central role in helping to improve the outcomes for children and their families and in reducing the inequalities in outcomes that could exist between the most disadvantaged children and their peers. Spelthorne Family Centres will provide access to high quality support and provision at the earliest opportunity, and is aimed at reducing or eliminating barriers to access.
The post holder will play a key role in the provision of early help and targeted services by providing outreach support to children, young people and their families by delivering timely and targeted intervention programmes / workshops.
This role will require the post holder to work with families as a lone worker and be responsible for adhering to personal safety guidance. Furthermore, to ensure that family support is delivered effectively, the post holder will be required to liaise with other staff and other partners to plan, monitor and evaluate services.
Line Management/Supervisory Responsibility:
None
Budget Responsibility:
None
Duties and Responsibilities
· To work with the centre manager and senior outreach staff to support service delivery and outcomes for children, young people and their families.
· Complete required assessments in line with Surrey’s Effective Family Resilience Framework and Family Centre Specification.
· To undertake direct work with children and young people who are assessed as having complex needs and require targeted early help both in the home (lone working), in school at the centres or other suitable venues .
· To provide early help support using a variety of interventions including motivational interviewing, solution focused approaches and accredited parenting strategies.
· Complete case related reports and maintain records in accordance with practice guidance.
· Assist in the development and delivery of project work; working with other staff to provide information and feedback.
· Liaise, communicate and work in partnership with other internal departments, partner organisations, agencies and/or contractors and engage with the community and volunteers.
· Assess and manage risk in carrying out duties and raising issues where appropriate with Centre Manager.
· Assess and manage risk associated with assigned cases and service delivery to ensure safeguarding of service users.
Person Specification
Essential
NVQ Level 3 in childcare, health, education, social care or equivalent
Good level of education - GCSE English and Maths A-C
Demonstrate practical knowledge and experience of supporting vulnerable groups
Understanding of the legislation that underpins child protection and keeping them safe from harm
Knowledge and training in safeguarding children
Knowledge or experience of facilitating parenting programmes
Knowledge of TAF, CIN, CP and Early Help processes
Clear understanding of equal opportunities issues and is able to relate this into practice
Has good communication and IT skills including the use of Microsoft Office
Willingness to travel as required, have a driving license and own car
Commitment to continuous training and professional development
Desirable
Knowledge of issues in Health for children and families
Clear understanding of the value and process of monitoring and evaluation
Surrey County Council Superuser training
Is able to identify and develop ideas relevant to the needs of the Children’s Centre
Working in a voluntary or paid capacity in a community setting e.g. residents’ association, community group, playgroup etc.
Is able to work constructively as a member of a team
Occasional evening work (advance notice given)
Has vision, enthusiasm, good self-presentation, determination, dedication and a sense of humour
An enhanced DBS is required for this role.
All applicants will be required to complete an application form.
NOTE: This job description is intended as a working document for the position outlined. It is not exhaustive but
indicates the wide range of duties involved. The job description will form part of the organisation’s performance
management process and will be kept under continuous review to reflect the change and growth within the Trust.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £16.90 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
