Family Time Support Worker

THE EMPLOYER IS: ARDMONAGH COMMUNITY & FAMILY GROUP LTDAs a Family Time Support Worker, you will play a crucial role in assisting and advising families facing short- or long-term challenges. Your focus will be on supporting service users and empowering them to overcome difficulties within their family dynamics. You’ll work closely with families, assess their needs, and provide support where required.

To supervise / monitor the contact between children and their parents and/or other relatives where court orders or other circumstances make this necessary.

To carry out individual work with children and/or their parents as agreed with the Manager. Family Time Workers will work in a variety of settings, including inhouse, in the community and occasionally within family and foster carer homes.

This post requires the successful candidate to work flexibly and to undertake some work outside of normal office hours and/or  staff will be subject to and completed/apply for Access NI checks.

• To work in conjunction with the Manager and Team Leaders to facilitate Family Time and identify areas where support is required to improve family time for the children and families involved.
• To provide transport for children and on occasion other family members, to and from the contact venue.
• Work closely with commissioning Children and Families Social Workers as part of agreed plans for children.
• To report to the Manager or other Designated Officer any circumstances giving rise to concern relating to the safety of children (including accidents to staff and or service users).
• Liaise with colleagues within Social Care Services (Adults/Children’s Services) and professionals within external agencies, as agreed within plans for children as and when required.
• Keep written records and produce reports, as requested, in accordance with policies and procedures.
• To assist and participate in Child Protection Conference, Planning and Review meetings, as required.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Promote an atmosphere in which parents/carer’s are encouraged to take responsibility for meeting needs of their children.
• Attend Court as a witness if required, in court proceedings, involving children and families.
• To remain abreast and informed of current thinking in relation to professional conduct and practice.
• To assist in compiling reports for court if required.
• Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff in their development and training.
• Undertake such other duties, training and/or hours of work as may be reasonably required, and which are consistent with the general level of responsibility of this job.

• Minimum Level 2 in the below areas; (with a willingness to progress to level 3-5), Youth and Community Work, Childcare, Health & Social Care.
• NISCC registration or be eligible for registration (must be registered on appointment).
• Experience in working with children and young people.
• Experience in the use of IT including at least one of the core packages i.e. Outlook, Work, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Communication Skills - ability to listen actively, communicate effectively, and build trust with families, through the use of good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to prepare written records/reports to a high standard.
• Be confident in dealing with difficult or urgent situations.
• Be confident to gain skills for court appearance.
• Problem solving - creative thinking to address the dynamic needs of families with good standards and management throughout.
• Organisational skills - manage caseload effectively, ensuring schedules are followed and documentation completed efficiently.
• Knowledge of legal and ethical standards - familiarity with confidentiality, equality, and diversity requirements.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Be available for regular staff supervision, team meetings and training sessions.
• Flexibility and commitment to accommodate the service users’ commitments, such as school and work.
• Ability to motivate and influence others.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Capacity for…