Family Navigator

Family Navigator

(Salary as advertised)

Hertfordshire, Hitchin

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35 hours per week

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Fixed Term

Main purpose of the role

Working as part of a team led by the Service Manager and which includes two therapists, the Family Navigator will work with families on a 1-2-1 basis and will lead as a practitioner to undertake family needs assessments, and agree, broker and support the family to implement a plan which will address issues which require practical, therapeutic and other supportive action.
The Family Navigator will also support families and individual family members through group work and will also act as the team specialist in respect of domestic abuse, employability, substance misuse/emotional health and advice and guidance support/other practical support.
The Family Navigator will hold specialisms in:

• Domestic violence
• Employment support
• Substance misuse/emotional health
• Advice and guidance/working with clients from BAME backgrounds

Reporting and working relationships

Reporting relationships:
Reports toThe Family Navigator will report directly to the Herts Family Services, Service Manager /
Working relationships: /

Role-specific responsibilities

3.1 / To deliver intensive family support to Herts Family Services clients, both 1-2-1 sessions and groups (as appropriate).
3.2 / To use the Herts Family Services procedures for: keeping accurate session notes, liaison with delivery partners, writing review reports, and recording attendance.
3.3 / To undertake a comprehensive family needs assessments and develop a family-led and agreed plan, and to directly deliver and broker access to the support and interventions required to enable the family to complete the plan and achieve the required outcomes.
3.4 / To partake in 1-2-1 line management supervision on a monthly basis.
3.5 / To participate in clinical supervision.
3.6 / To demonstrate a proven commitment to Anti-discriminatory Practices and have a good appreciation of Equal Opportunities Policy & Procedure.
3.7 / To undertake any other duty to support the operational functioning of the service and the partnership as may reasonably be requested by the Herts Family Services Service Manager.
3.8 / To co-ordinate and deliver the practical and other aspect of the Herts Family Services programme, with an emphasis on empowering and enabling them to overcome personal and practical difficulties, access other services which can offer them the tools and support they may need for the future, build self-esteem and develop greater resilience as individuals and family members.
3.9 / To ensure that all work is carried out to a high standard, and in line with national best practice and within recognised ethical frameworks.
3.10 / To regularly attend Herts Family Services team meetings and any other meetings as required
3.11 / Working as a lead professional, to work with families and individual family members on a 1-2-1 basis and also to facilitate groups as appropriate.
3.12 / To ensure that any issues regarding risk of harm to children and young people and vulnerable adults are explored fully and reported immediately to the Herts Family Services Service Manager and that WDP safeguarding policies and procedures are followed.
3.13 / To act as a lead practitioner in respect of domestic violence / employability / substance misuse / emotional health and advice and guidance support / work with BAME groups, and as conduit to the resources and expertise for all Herts Family Services clients.
3.14 / The Family Navigator has the authority to carry out all tasks implicit in the above responsibilities using his/her discretion to prioritise work commitments without the need to defer to the manager for approval.
3.15 / General accountabilities
To be an active and positive member of the team
To participate constructively and positively in staff and other meetings to promote and support communication channels within the organisation
To comply with WDP’s policies and procedures
To comply with all health and safety policies and guidelines, taking responsibility for your own safety, that of colleagues and others as applicable.
To comply with Infection Prevention and Control policies
To observe professional integrity in relationships with all stakeholders
To treat all information acquired as a result of your employment at WDP as confidential, complying with all relevant policies and procedures.

WDP’s commitment to you

WDP works within the following framework and requires all employees to do the same.
4.1 / Equal Opportunities
WDP is committed to promoting anti-discriminatory practices within society, its organisation and in the promotion of its services to the community. WDP expects all employees to understand, comply with and to promote its policies in their work and to challenge prejudice and discrimination and where necessary to undertake any appropriate training.
4.2 / Recovery
WDP is a recovery focused organisation. Our staff and volunteers are committed to helping our service users improve their health and wellbeing, and to become free from dependency.
4.3 / Career Development and Progression
At WDP we actively encourage career progression from the talent we have from within and we strive to provide not only promotional progression but to develop a specialist and lead responsibility roles with teams and other services within WDP.
4.4 / Safeguarding
WDP is committed to ensuring the safeguarding and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults, and all applicants will be required to demonstrate understanding of and commitment to best safeguarding practice.

Your commitment to WDP

5.1 / WDP Vision, Mission and Values
Promoting and understanding the values, vision and mission statement of WDP. To understand what it means to you in your respective role, to your team and to service delivery.
5.2 / Vulnerable children and adults
Demonstrating an understanding of and commitment to best safeguarding practice. Taking immediate and appropriate action as required.
5.3 / Boundaries and behaviours
Observing professional integrity in relationships with service users, peers and other relevant professionals.
5.4 / Health & Safety
Being responsible for your health and safety and that of colleagues and service users. Employees should co-operate with management and follow established systems of work, use protective equipment where necessary and report defects and hazards to management. To comply with Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures.
5.5 / Confidentiality
Treating all information acquired through the course of your employment as confidential and complying with all the appropriate policies, systems and procedures.
5.6 / Information Governance

Applying information governance processes to ensure all necessary safeguards are in place regarding personal information – and its appropriate use – about our service users, workforce and members of the public.

5.7 / Continuous Professional and Personal Development
Working within a learning organisation, seeking learning opportunities either by attending learning and training events either externally or internally to improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and develop the personal qualities required in their professional lives.
The above is an outline of the post holder’s duties and responsibilities. It is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time in order to meet the changing needs of WDP.

Person specification

Essential and desirable requirements (E & D) for the role and assessing and testing the necessary level of competence required for this role either via the application form (A); interview (I); and/or exercises (E).
Please note - applicants are asked to evidence their ability to meet each aspect of the person specification below, e.g. by highlighting relevant key achievements and duties held within roles. / E/D / Measured by
1. /

Education, knowledge and experience

1.1 / To hold a relevant qualification in Health and Social Care or Family Support work / E / A
1.2 / To have a minimum of two years’ full time experience as a support worker working with vulnerable families / E / A
1.3 / The post holder will be required to work towards or have completed training in evidence-based parenting interventions / E / A/I
1.4 / Have a clear understanding of problematic substance use, domestic violence and the impact on the family, and the needs of differing groups in the communities in relation to these issues. / E / I
1.5 / A proven commitment to anti-discriminatory practices and an understanding of Equal Opportunities policy and practice. / E / A/I
1.6 / Knowledge of relevant legislation and best practice in relation to the protection of children and vulnerable adults. / E / I
1.7 / Excellent time management skills, the ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team, prioritising accordingly. / E / A/I
1.8 / Ability to work occasional flexible hours, which may include some evening work. / D / I
1.9 / Good standard of both written and verbal English. / E / A/I
1.10 / A high level of accuracy when writing reports and completing client information / E / A
1.11 / Ability and willingness to work in an emotionally challenging and often stressful environment. / E / I
1.12 / Fully competent in MS Office package ( Word, Excel, Outlook, etc) / D / A/I
1.13 / As part of your Continuing Professional Development you will be expected to attend learning events and training on a regular basis and to reflect on your learning so as to build and develop best practice and knowledge within your team, across the organisation, and the One Herts One Family partnership. / E / A
2. /

Working within WDP’s framework of commitments to employees

2.1 / A commitment to engaging with, understanding and promoting WDP’s values, vision and mission. / E/D / A/I
2.2 / An understanding of and commitment to safeguarding best practice. / E/D / A/I
2.3 / An understanding of the importance of professional integrity in relationships with service users, peers and other relevant professionals. / E/D / A/I
2.4 / A responsibility for your own health, safety and wellbeing as well as those around you (e.g. colleagues and service users). / E/D / A/I
2.5 / An understanding of and commitment to treating all information acquired through the course of your employment as confidential. / E/D / A/I
2.6 / An understanding of information governance processes and a commitment to follow and apply all necessary safeguards. / E/D / A/I
2.7 / A commitment to seek learning opportunities to improve and broaden your own professional knowledge and skills and to contribute to and where relevant oversee the learning of others. / E/D / A/I
3. /

Key competencies

3.1 / Communication skills for direct work with children, young people and families / E / A/I
3.2 / Empower and enable families to address and take ownership of issues / E/D / A/I
3.3 / Decision making and problem solving skills / E / A/I/E
3.4 / Provide practical support on issues such as housing, debts, budgeting, education etc / E / A/I/E
3.5 / Provide a flexible and non-prescriptive approach to delivery / E/D / A/I/E
3.6 / Engage and work with families and other services/ professionals / E / A/I
3.7 / Interact positively and build relationships with families / E / A/I/E
3.8 / Promote positive behaviour in children and young people by supporting and working alongside the parent/ carer / E / A/I/E
3.9 / Support families who have experienced stressful/ negative situations / E / A/I/E
3.10 / Awareness of when it is appropriate to refer family members into therapeutic services / E/D / A/I/E
3.11 / Record keeping / E/D / A/I
3.12 / Work as part of a holistic team including Family Therapists and Play Therapist / E/D / A/I
4. /

Equality, diversity, vision, mission and values

4.1 / An empathy for and understanding of our mission, vision and values. / E / A/I
4.2 / Commitment to equal opportunities and overcoming barriers to diversity and equality. / E / A/I
4.3 / Experience of working with people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. / E / A/I
4.4 / Experience and commitment to supporting and working within diversity awareness environments. / E / A/I
5. / Circumstances
5.1 / Able to travel as required for the role and attend meetings and other activities outside office hours / E / A/I
5.2 / A flexible approach to workload. / E / A/I
4.1
Authors
Version number / Date / Initials / Initials / Initials
1.0 / 14 February / OM / HR / 2014
1.1 / 02 June / STM / 2015

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