JOB DESCRIPTION TITLE:
Family Worker Team Leader
DEPARTMENT:
Beechwood Primary School
DIVISION: RESPONSIBLE TO:
Headteacher
GRADE:
L7
PURPOSE OF POST: To be responsible for managing the work of the Family Worker team, to positively engage parents/carers, children and their families in children’s learning and development so that, in partnership with schools and other agencies, children and young people are supported to meet the 5 Key Outcomes of Every Child Matters and the Children Act 2004.
ORGANISATION CHART: Headteacher
Member of the Senior Leadership Team Family Worker- Team Leader
Family Worker
Family Worker
1
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES: % 1.
Work with the Head Teacher, the designated School Line Manager, the Children’s Centre Manager, EWO and other agencies to identify, develop and implement strategies to engage families so that children and young people can meet the 5 key Outcomes of the Children Act 2004 (see ‘Context’ section below).
20
2.
Manage and have overall responsibility for the services delivered from the Family Worker team. Manage and promote the development of strong partnerships with families and other professionals.
20
3.
Provide leadership and management, ensuring effective recruitment, induction and development of all staff reporting to you and providing effective line management through performance management, appraisals, supervision and personal and professional development.
10
4.
Undertake structured assessment of the needs of children and young people with their parents, through school-based meetings and home visiting, to identify resources and support needed to enable them to meet the 5 key outcomes. In some cases this will entail working with individual families and making referrals to other agencies with whom co-working arrangements may be appropriate, e.g. Children and Family Services, Education Welfare, CAMHS, Health Visitors, Safer Luton Partnership, Family Welfare Association.
10
5.
To identify, challenge and support parents to ensure pupil attendance targets are achieved and develop and implement attendance strategies within the school. To work closely with Educational Welfare Officer (EWO), seeking advice and making referrals to improve attendance.
15
10
6.
Work within the context of individual School Improvement Plans, to promote, develop facilitate, and deliver where appropriate family learning activities and to encourage adult learning within the school and, where appropriate, in the local community and to promote children and young people’s participation.
7.
Write clear and comprehensive e.g, reports to be used at CAF, Child Protection conferences and court proceedings.
5
8.
Represent & promote Family Support as required in parents’ meetings, staff meetings, conferences, consultations, giving information, guidance and advice.
10
2
DIMENSIONS: Supervisory Management: Up to 3 Family Workers or Family Assistants Financial Resources: One role of Family Workers is to submit funding bids for particular school based activities. There is additionally a responsibility for spending allocated funding of around £500 per term in grant funded posts. Physical Resources: It is a requirement that hours of this role are worked flexibly to meet the school needs, and this includes working up to 9 late evenings in a year.
CONTEXT: THE BACKGROUND TO LUTON’S FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES All Family Workers will put the 5 Outcomes of Every Child Matters as embodied in the Children Act, 2004, at the heart of their practice. Parents, carers and families play a key role in improving outcomes for children within the 5 outcomes, namely to: Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Enjoy & Achieve, Make a Positive Contribution and Achieve Economic Well-Being. Supporting families in this way will involve Family Workers in doing home visits and in these circumstances Family Workers will be expected to respect Luton Borough Council’s and their own school guidance with regard to lone working. Family Workers must gain appropriate authorisation through the school’s line management system before undertaking any home visits and particular care needs to be taken where lone visiting is being considered.
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Criminal Records Bureau. ‘CVs will not be accepted for any posts based in schools.
3
Person Specification
This acts as selection criteria and gives an outline of the types of person and the characteristics required to do the job. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Essential (E): - without which candidate would be rejected Desirable (D): - useful for choosing between two good candidates.
Attributes
Please make sure, when completing your application form, you give clear examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria. Essential How Desirable Measured
Experience
Skills/personal Qualities
Demonstrable experience of effectively engaging parents/carers in working with their children to support their learning & development, both in groups & on an individual basis.
1,2
Experience of working with professionals from a number of agencies or disciplines.
1,2
Experience of producing and implementing reports and action plans. Have excellent communication and organizational skills.
1,2,5
Able to communicate supportively, tactfully and objectively with parents/carers & children to engage them in supporting learning & development.
1,2,5
Able to undertake assessments of the social/care/physical/personal and educational needs of children with their families to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child.
1,2
Able to write clear and concise reports, action plans and evaluations
1,2
Able to work within policy guidelines and able to exercise judgement as to when to share information & when referrals to external agencies are necessary
1,2
Able to manage periods of conflicting work demands & to maintain accurate records that can be used to inform practice.
1,2
4
Experience of working with children or families gained in a multi cultural context.
How Measured 1,2
Able to work on own initiative with minimum of supervision in coordinating & managing a programme of activities for parents & children.
1,2
Able to engage positively with a range of professionals.
1,2
Able to work in conjunction with others in the team to develop & share good practice
Equality Issues
Specialist Knowledge
1,2
Ability to lead, manage and develop the performance of a team.
1,2
ICT skills to generate reports letters, programmes etc. Able to recognise discrimination and take action within the policies and procedures of the school and the funding agency.
1,2
Possess an understanding and / or experience of cultural and religious issues, which may impact upon child care and education.
1,2
1,2
Understanding of child development and of how children and adults learn.
1,2
Some understanding of the Children Act 2004 and child protection procedures including understanding the effects of deprivation and abuse.
1,2
Education and Training
A qualification – to NVQ3 or equivalent or training in child care/development allied to previous work experience with children & families
1,2,4
Other Requirements
To be flexible about how hours are worked to meet school needs.
1,2
(1 = Application Form
2 = Interview
3 = Test
Certificate in Delivering Adult Learning
4 = Proof of Qualification
1,2,4
5 = Practical Exercise)
We will consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), to enable an applicant with a disability (as defined under the Act) to meet the requirements of the post The Jobholder will ensure that Safer Luton Partnership and Luton Borough Council policies are reflected in all aspects of his/her work, in particular those relating to: (i) Equal Opportunities (ii) Health and Safety (iii) Data Protection Act (1984 & 1998).
5
In addition to candidates’ ability to perform the duties of the post, the interview will also explore issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children including:
Motivation to work with children and young people; Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people; Emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours; and, attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline.
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Criminal Records Bureau. ‘CVs will not be accepted for any posts based in schools.
6
