ROLE DESCRIPTION

Safe Families for Children is a Christian charity which started in Chicago in 2003. In the last 13 years 30,000 families have been helpedand over 20,000 volunteers recruited across 80 cities and 35 US States. Safe Families came to the UK in 2012 and is now working with 21 Local Authorities in the Midlands, Greater Manchester, Mersey, the South Coastand the North East.Our goal is to help families in times of crisis and reduce the number of children being ‘looked after’by offering respite care to children and befriending struggling parents and carers.

Title: Senior Family Support Manager

Location: Walsall, Sandwell and surrounding areas (including occasional travel to Northampton, Nottingham and within the Midlands) Hours: 25-40 hours per week

Reports to: Midlands Program Director Pay: £35k pro rata (from 40 hours f/t)

Start date: ASAP (September / October 2016)

Role summary:

The Senior Family Support Manager (SFSM) job is a key leadership role taking end-to-end operational oversight of all the cases that Safe Families deals with across the Midlands. We have two SFSM posts within the Midlands; this role covers the southern half of the region. The SFSM would not normally carry a case load, however through the line management of Family Support Managers (FSMs), would have a clear understanding of, and responsibility for, all support being delivered through the hub. The SFSM (alongside the program director) would build, maintain and support Safe Families’ relationships with Local Authorities, taking specific responsibility for the relationships with their lead social care practitioners, attending their Edge of Care or Vulnerable Children’s (or equivalent) panels as appropriate and ensuring that the Local Authority refer appropriately.

Responsibilities:

  1. Line management, supervision, development and mentoring of the FSMs to include:
  2. weekly meetings with FSM team and RAC to review cases, ensuring the following is covered:
  3. Risk and safeguarding considerations assessed to ensure smooth running of the referrals process
  4. the creation and maintenance of accurate and secure records for the referred families
  5. Allocation of the appropriate volunteer
  6. Allocation of Family Coach
  7. ensuring timely case closures
  8. support for the FSMs in the assessment of needs of families, which may require visiting the family in their home
  9. championing the use of the database; ensuring the FSMs write good quality notes associated with families as the case progresses
  1. Supporting the Programme Director in the strengthening of working relationships with Local Authorities and where appropriate, other agencies
  2. To include attendance at quarterly review meetings with Local Authorities and monthly meetings to review referrals
  3. Attendence at Edge of Care, Vulnerable Children’s meeting or equivalent as appropriate
  4. Invest in relationship and rapport with lead practitioners to ensure appropriate referrals and strong partnership maintained
  1. Being the Safeguarding lead for the Midlands (alongside the other SFSM), supporting the FSMs to deal with concerns raised by volunteers and making forward referrals when necessary
  2. Support the delivery of PSP metrics
  3. Contribution to the Safe Families national SFSM network
  4. Working with the Community Volunteer Manager, identify the Family Coaches for the Midlands (15 per Local Authority area) and support the FSMs in taking them through the training process. Take a lead role on the delivery of Family Coach training.
  5. Working with the Senior Community Volunteer Manager:
  6. develop and deliver regular and on-going high-quality training to volunteers
  7. where appropriate, undertake suitability assessments for prospective volunteers
  8. support the delivery of volunteer evenings
  9. As a member of the Approval Panel, peer review assessments and references and assist the decision-making regarding whether volunteer applicants are given clearance to begin working with children and families
  10. Facilitate Family Coach approval, being part of the Family Coach Interview process where appropriate
  11. When required, produce written reports to colleagues, the Advisory Panel, Board and key stakeholders
  12. Be a champion for the compassionate ethos of the charity, which is rooted in the historic Christian tradition of showing kindness and hospitality to those in need, ensuring services are delivered in accordance with principles of equality of opportunity

Required knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications:

  • Health or Social Care qualification or equivalent
  • Fully qualified, accredited professional status in social work eg CQSW, DipSW, CSS, PQCCA
  • Strong in empathy and sensitive interpersonal skills, tact and discretion
  • Knowledge and experience of current research and good practice standards in relation to children and families, in particular with regards to achieving positive outcomes and promoting their welfare
  • Fully conversant with the latest Safeguarding frameworks for working with children and families
  • Confidence and ability to challenge practice in order to ensure high quality of service and safety for children and their families
  • Ability to present Safe Families clearly and to facilitate the understanding of Safe Families by other agencies, families in crisis and Safe Families colleagues
  • Significant management experience of both staff and volunteers
  • Experience of working with children and families in a community setting
  • Good administrative and IT skills including the use of Microsoft Office and databases
  • Able to drive and with own transport
  • Experience in managing a demanding caseload within health or social care
  • Demonstrable competence and experience in the management of complex plans for children and families social care
  • Demonstrable competence and experience in assessment and analysis of parenting skills and risk within the field of social care

Desirable knowledge and skills

  • Have an understanding of and implement health and safety responsibilities
  • Ability to prioritise and work under pressure
  • Ability to maintain clear and accurate records
  • Flexibility to respond to a changing environment, travel and work demands of the role
  • Knowledge and understanding of local needs, church and community networks and existing services and agencies
  • The ability to work collaboratively and effectively with the team and wider organisation when planning and developing the service

Further notes:

Safeguarding:

Completion of the recruitment process would involve the candidate being screened through an Enhanced DBS check

Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR):

This post has been identified as having a GOR to be filled by a Christian under the provisions of the Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003 Section 7.2

SENIOR FAMILY SUPPORT MANAGER1