Involve Northwest is an innovative, community-based organisation with an approach that is grounded in our core belief that the services we offer are free, confidential, and are motivated for public benefit, and not profit.
Job Title: Family Navigator
Service/Project: Connect Us
Location: The Community Village, Rock Ferry, and the Wirral community.
Reporting To: Connect Us Contract Manager
Direct Staff: No direct staffing responsibilities
This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and subscription to the Update Service in line with internal safer recruitment policy.
Job Purpose: To build on the strengths-based Community Connectors model to support families with children aged 0–5 to become more confident, resilient and connected to their communities and to the services, activities and assets available to them. Family Navigators will work alongside families to identify their strengths, priorities and aspirations, supporting them to overcome barriers, develop practical solutions and build the confidence and skills to navigate support independently.
The role will focus on achieving sustainable change and strengthening families’ future resilience - objectives in line with the Department of Education.
Core Duties and Responsibilities:
- Build trusting, respectful relationships with families with children aged 0–5, using a strengths-based approach to understand their strengths, needs, aspirations and priorities.
- Work alongside families to identify goals, overcome barriers and develop practical steps that build confidence, resilience and independence.
- Connect families with appropriate services, community groups, activities and local assets, supporting them to navigate pathways and access the right support at the right time.
- Support families to engage with relevant early years, health, childcare, parenting, Family Hubs and other community opportunities, encouraging them to become increasingly confident in accessing these independently.
- Identify and respond appropriately to emerging needs, including SEND, developmental, health and wellbeing or safeguarding concerns, making appropriate onward referrals and working within role boundaries.
- Use outreach and community engagement to identify families who may be isolated or disconnected, while building relationships with local organisations and community networks to strengthen opportunities and referral pathways.
- Monitor family progress and outcomes, capturing distance travelled, achievements, feedback and learning, and maintain accurate CRM records, caseload information and reporting in line with project requirements.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner organisations to promote effective joined-up support for families and contribute to the development of the Family Navigator service.
- Work flexibly across community settings, including outreach and, where required, evening and weekend activity.
Company Duties and Responsibilities:
- To work in line with set company policies and procedures, including ISO9001:2015 and GDPR 2018.
- To work to Involve Northwest’s Safeguarding procedures.
- To always represent the charity in the best manner.
- To demonstrate a commitment to the vision, values, and strategic aims of Involve Northwest.
- To maintain high standards of professionalism and keep abreast of current legislation, standards, best practice and maintain a focus of continuous improvement.
- To work within the practice standards of the Connect Us Service.
Person Specification - Essential
Experience
- Working and empowering Families within the community and supporting social isolation barriers.
- Experience of working within communities with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Experience of “getting the best out of people” in a safe timely manner.
- Working with the challenges faced by the families and the wider community.
- Setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries with community member and professionals.
Knowledge and Skills
- Community leadership and team building skills, strong facilitation skills.
- IT literate - competent and ability to use a CRM system.
- Ability to research information from a range of sources.
- Managing a caseload with the ability to produce quality monthly reports.
- Understanding of social isolation, health, wellbeing and the barriers families can face.
Personal Attributes
- Be compassionate and empathetic with your client’s situation.
- Act with integrity and respect when working with all clients, agencies, and Individuals.
- Flexible, adaptable, and strong team player and a good active listener.
- Be a team player with an open and honest manner, with the ability to build on effective relationships and work collaboratively with community leaders, local authority, and professionals.
- Ability to ‘step back’ and enable families to do for themselves.
- Able to prioritise tasks, workload, and good time management skills.
- Be motivational and empowering.
- Political awareness with and ability to influence, challenge and support.
- Believe everyone has something essential to contribute to build communities regardless of their past experiences or the labels others have placed on them and are focused on the ‘gifts’ of individuals.
- The ability to monitor and report case work and statistics and work to specific project targets.
- Be optimistic about the possibility of personal growth and change.
- Motivate individuals and agencies to move through courses of action and decision-making processes.
Person Specification - Desirable
Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
- Good understanding of safeguarding and to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
- Experience of working with a caseload of people/families within set case parameters
- Experience and understanding of mental health and social care services.
- Monitoring/recording casework and statistics and working in line with set contract targets.
- Ability to drive/access a vehicle for work purposes.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Pay: £26,479.00 per year
Work Location: In person
