Family Support Officer

Purpose of the Job:

1. The Return Home Interviewer is responsible for conducting Return Home Interviews for children who are currently looked after by Children’s Services and have been reported as missing/absent.

2. To ensure that any safeguarding concerns identified during a missing/absent period are reported effectively and in a timely manner and to work towards reducing missing/absent periods for Young People.

• To conduct Return Home Interviews for those Young People who have been reported as missing/absent within 72 hours of their return and better understand the circumstances around their missing period and communicate this effectively to the social work team. To ensure that all young people who have had a period of being missing/absent have had the opportunity to speak to an independent person about their circumstances.
• To ensure that Return Home Interviews are recorded accurately on the IT system in a timely manner so that any information gathered can be used to inform effective decision making.
• Build rapport and effective relationships with Young People who may be reported as missing on a regular basis and work to advocate on their behalf and understand how we can safeguard them in a more effective manner.
• To report any safeguarding concerns immediately to the appropriate person
• Identify and highlight specific concerns relating to worries about Child Sexual Exploitation, Criminal Exploitation and gang activity which could place the young person at risk of harm.
• Reporting/Highlighting any intelligence to the CSE/Missing Coordinator that may assist with understanding exploitation within Southwark and the reasons for why young people are reported as missing.

Please note this is a contracted position of 3-6 months with the possibility of extension depending on budgets and performance.

Please note as an agency we can only offer an Umbrella PAYE rate for this post and confirmation of Eligibility to work in the UK will be required before submission