We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and team-oriented individual to join the Kinship Support Service as a kinship family worker. This is a team, established in October 2022, supporting children and families living within kinship arrangements.
You will be working alongside social workers, other family workers and welfare rights officers, who are supporting kinship carers and children. This role however will take a birth parent focus and rely on creative thinking and providing emotional and practical support to help families cope with the complex feelings and challenges associated within kinship arrangements.
Your role will include supporting the birth parent around understanding the journey which led to their child living outside of their care, supporting birth parents around family time arrangements, empowering them to maintain a relationship with their child, and being an advocate for birth parents alongside colleagues who will be advocating for kinship carers. It is hoped this approach will support birth parents to be better heard and responded to as part of the kinship arrangement and improve family dynamics.
You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to maintain confidentiality. Relevant experience of working with children and families is also an essential requirement of the role. Of benefit to the role will be skills in mediation, supporting family time, managing conflict and difficult situations and understanding the importance of family relationships and identity.
Recording, report-writing and IT skills are also essential, along with an ability to work to your own initiative and as an effective member of a team.
You will have an interest in the kinship world, and the needs of kinship children and their families, as well as an understanding of the challenges faced by families, and have enthusiasm for wanting to support change. You will receive regular supervision and be part of a supportive team environment and be supported to continue to develop your own skills and knowledge.
For an informal chat please contact Lucy Collier, team manager, on 0115 804 1070 or at lucy1.collier@nottscc.gov.uk or on 0115 804 1407 or at kinshipsupport@nottscc.gov.uk
Disabled applicants who meet the essential shortlisting requirements will be guaranteed an interview. A job share scheme is available for all full-time posts: both permanent and temporary, unless otherwise stated. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment and undergo appropriate checks.
Nottinghamshire County Council strives to ensure that it goes beyond the requirements of the Equalities Act and prides itself on being accredited as a Disability Confident Leader Organisation.
Therefore, the County Council encourages applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, religion, belief, pregnancy and maternity status, age or sexual orientation.
