Job Description:

Children & Family Reunification Support Worker

Contract - Initial 3 months (possible extension)

Rate - £23 (umbrella rate)

Location - Alton

Going Home Workers play a vital role in supporting children in care to safely return to their parent(s) or those with parental responsibility. They also have a key part in embedding and driving the improvements to our reunification process across social care as we move towards our updated Going Home pathway. Working closely with social workers, Intensive Workers, district teams, foster carers and partner agencies, with most of their time being engaged in direct work with children and families. Their responsibilities include:

Assessment & Engagement

• Engaging directly with children, parents and wider families during the Going Home process to build trust and gather meaningful insights to support and inform decision making.
• Collating and reviewing key information to assist social workers with completion of assessments to determine whether it is safe for a child to go home to parent/s.
• Conducting Going Home (reunification) pre-screening and assessments for identified children returning home to live with their parent/s (or person/s with parental responsibility), with guidance and oversight from the allocated social worker.

Care Planning & Monitoring

• Ensuring the child's voice is central to all planning and decision-making.
• Ensuring that robust "Going Home" reunification plans are progressed to allow a safe return to parental care and support teams in delivering successful outcomes.
• Providing regular updates to the CIC team manager during 1:1's, sharing progress and successes related to tasks outlined in the Going Home plan while identifying opportunities for improvement and learning.

Activity Tracking & Reporting

• Working alongside those responsible for the care planning and case management to help maintain a clear and up-to-date picture of reunification (Going Home) activity using simple, standardised tools.
• Contributing to identifying opportunities for children in care to safely return home by supporting thoughtful, evidence-informed decision-making.
• Assisting managers in gathering and presenting information that reflects progress against key reunification goals and outcomes.
• Helping ensure regular updates to tracking tools so that teams have a reliable overview of children's journeys and can act early to avoid delays.

Multi-Agency Coordination

• Providing wraparound support and oversight for children going home, ensuring effective collaboration between all relevant agencies such as Fostering, Virtual School, IRS etc.
• Working as part of a wider team around the family.
• Participating in group case discussions and relevant meetings.
• Ensuring appropriate support from Intensive Workers and Children & Family Volunteers is fully utilised to assist successful reunifications.
• Participating in Practice Circles to support planning and decision-making for children going home.

Family & Peer Support

• Assisting with Family Network Meetings to strengthen wider family involvement and support for those children in care identified as able to return home to parent/s or person/s with parental responsibility.
• Attending peer support meetings with other Going Home Workers to share learning and reflect on best practice.
• Facilitating and signposting access to practical support, such as housing, benefits, or parenting programmes, to reduce barriers to successful opportunities to go home to parent/s.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people in a variety of situations.
• Ability to build effective relationships using mediation and negotiation skills.
• IT skills.
• Ability to work in an inclusive/non-discriminatory manner.
• Ability to work flexibly, as there is a potential for evening and Saturday working.
• Ability to use own initiative within the framework of accountability to the team manager.
• Ability to present information both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to construct coherent reports.
• Ability to liaise effectively with other professionals/organisations.
• Experience of working directly with parents to develop their parenting skills.
• Experience of working with children, young people, and families in a helping or caring capacity.
• Experience of providing services to children and families with complex needs.
• Ability to meet the travel requirements of the role.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• NVQ level 3, in a relevant subject - e.g., health, education, social care
• Knowledge of child development.
• Knowledge of strength-based models of working.
• Experience and understanding of reunification and the complexities and risks associated with children returning home.
• Direct experience of specific work with children and young people who have experienced trauma or loss.
• Experience of dealing effectively with difficult interpersonal situations.
• An understanding of the impact of social deprivation and disadvantage in children, young people, and their families.

Working conditions in this role may include:

• Display Screen Equipment including desktop PC.
• Working with children and young people up to the age of 18 who have special needs.
• Verbal abuse and/or aggression.
• Lone working.
• Use of own vehicle (for work purposes where applicable). You must be able to meet the travel requirements of the role. You will be able to claim travel expenses.
• Working in homes where there are animals.

About Us

Connect2Hampshire is a managed service agency owned by Hampshire County Council providing temporary, contract and interim opportunities into the Council. Our service is built on our values of ethical, trustworthy, and caring, and our profits are returned to our Local Authority shareholders.

Connect2Hampshire is a trading style of Hampshire & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Hampshire County Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Hampshire is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.