Classifications
Job Information
Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us click here.
Family Group Conference Coordinator
We have an exciting opportunity for a 12 month fixed-term part time role as a Family Group Conference Coordinator.
Please note the salary advertised is full time equivalent and will be pro rata.
About the role
The FGC model is used to bring family members and friends together to look at how they can collectively provide safe, supportive, and sustainable solutions to the problems being experienced in caring for children within the family. Your role is to arrange and organise the meeting and empower/ assist the family group members to come to their own decisions about how they will care for their children. You will also assist the referrers and other professionals/ information providers with the contents in preparing FGC Agenda/ Questions and at the FGC. You will give an importance to facilitating the participation of the children/ young people and their families when they are working with agencies. Good communication skills and the ability to engage quickly with clients will be essential. Mediation skills are vital to the post in order that differences of opinion can be expressed constructively. The post will require some working in the evenings and weekends.
For an informal discussion about the role please email Natalie Bugeja, Strategic Head of Fostering and Kinship at natalie.bugeja@acheivingforchildren.org.uk.
About you
- Family Group Coordinator training through a UK accredited body.
- Previous experience of arranging and completing family group conferencing.
- Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of Children Act 1989 and 2004, Fostering Regulations and National Minimum Standards; including awareness of current national policy, evidence based research and best practice that affects children’s social care.
- Experience of keeping and maintaining records and producing accurate reports, presentations, written updates to a range of stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, and planning skills.
- Demonstrated ability to explain professional reasoning, judgements, and decision making in a constructive and supportive manner through various communication methods.
- Experienced in the use of ICT, Liquid Logic, PARIS case record management systems, gmail, google share drive and google including applications as well as MS Word.
- Experience of addressing specific equality or diversity issues within your practice with colleagues/service users and taking action to solve them.
About our benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- A range of staff benefits and discounts
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children click here. For our social work offer click here. For our Recruitment Journey, click here.
Important Information
Start dates: Achieving for Children have set start dates meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.
Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.
Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
