Job Details

Family Help Practitioner

Gateshead Council

Location: Various locations across Gateshead (locality-based)
Service: Children’s Social Care – Family Help Service
Salary: Grade H, SCP 25–28
Contract: Temporary

About the Role

Gateshead Council is looking for an experienced Family Help Practitioner to join its Family Help Service, supporting vulnerable children and families through direct intervention, assessment and coordinated multi-agency support.

You will manage a caseload of families, identify their needs, assess risks and develop tailored support plans to improve outcomes for children and parents. Working with a whole-family approach, you will provide practical advice, guidance and interventions to help families overcome challenges and prevent difficulties from escalating.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of families with dependent children who require additional support.
• Complete Family Help Assessments (FHA) and other relevant assessments to identify family needs and risks.
• Develop, implement and review multi-agency support plans in partnership with families and professionals.
• Deliver direct interventions, advice, support and advocacy to children, parents and carers.
• Facilitate parenting programmes and interventions within community and domestic settings.
• Work collaboratively with social workers, schools, health professionals and other agencies.
• Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings, including Strategy Meetings and Initial Child Protection Conferences (ICPCs).
• Identify, assess and manage safeguarding risks in line with child protection procedures.
• Maintain accurate case records and ensure confidentiality and appropriate information sharing.
• Work flexibly, including occasional early mornings, evenings and weekends where required.

Essential Requirements

• Level 3 qualification or equivalent in a relevant discipline, such as Family Support, Early Years, Youth Work, Youth Justice, Social Work or Housing Support.
• Significant experience working with vulnerable children and families.
• Previous experience independently managing a caseload of families.
• Experience completing family assessments and developing support plans.
• Experience delivering direct interventions to support children, parents and carers.
• Good understanding of child development, safeguarding thresholds and child protection procedures.
• Experience working with multi-agency professionals and coordinating support.
• Strong communication, report-writing and organisational skills.
• Experience maintaining case records and using relevant databases and Microsoft Office.

Working Arrangements

The successful candidate will work within a locality-based Families First team across Gateshead, reporting to an Assistant Team Manager.

The role requires flexibility, a commitment to safeguarding and the ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a wider multidisciplinary team.