Families Together Practitioner

Job Description About Barnet Council

Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better.

As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values:
Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative – which drive everything we do.

In Barnet we are looking for practitioners who are reflective, proactive, resilient and able to deliver purposeful work to make a positive difference with our families and communities. The Families Together Practitioner is a new post which is designed help families navigate complex situations, ensuring that the best interests of the children are always prioritised. The practitioner will work closely with family members, children, social workers and other stakeholders to assist family led decision making to develop and implement effective plans that promote the well‑being and safety of children.

By fostering collaboration and empowering families, the practitioner ensures that decisions are made with a comprehensive understanding of each family's unique circumstances and needs. The new post would also collaborate with social workers and other professionals to develop comprehensive family plans, manage associated risks, ensure that the wishes and feelings of children and young people are central to the process and ensure that the work progresses within timescales.

In light of the recent care reforms and the evolving duties of local authorities as outlined by the Department for Education the role of a Families Together Practitioner is crucial. This role aligns with the strategic vision to enhance family support and ensure the well‑being of children and families within our community. The FTP ensures that families are actively involved in decision‑making processes, which is essential for creating effective and sustainable care plans.

By focusing on early intervention and family‑led solutions, the role of a FTP can help reduce the long‑term costs associated with crisis interventions and out‑of‑home placements.

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• Experience working with children, young people and/or families, particularly in roles related to child protection, social work, or family support services.
• Experience dealing with complex family dynamics and crisis situations.
• Experience of working collaboratively, with professionals to enable effective joint working and positive outcomes for families.
• The ability to undertake complex, meetings and act as a lead professional, delivering direct interventions and co‑ordinating services for children, young people and families.
• A good working knowledge and understanding of legislation, policy, procedure and guidance in relation to social care and wider children’s services.
• The ability to deal with sensitive issues, manage conflicting views and expectations and cope with unpredictable issues and behaviours.
• Ability to demonstrate effective liaison and partnership working across a wide range of stakeholders, including but not limited to:
  Children’s Social Care, Health, Education, Youth Justice and the voluntary community and private sectors.

• 31 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, which provides a valuable guaranteed income in your retirement together with security for your dependents
• Work‑life balance options may include hybrid working, flexitime, job share, home working, part‑time
• A vast range of lifestyle discounts from major retailers, supermarkets, energy suppliers and more
• Broad range of payroll benefits including cycle to work, eye care vouchers, travel and gym membership
• Excellent training and…