Local Government Jobs

An opportunity to develop a new project in the borough and have a real impact on the lives of some of its most vulnerable families.

Think Family seeks to focus on the strengths and difficulties of the whole family rather than those of the parent or child in isolation. It involves developing the coordination and integration of all services involved in working with the family.

Family Intervention Projects(FIPs) provide intensive support to vulnerable families. Through assertive working methods combined with the possibility of incentives and sanctions, projects help families to address their behaviour and the problems that underpin it. Accredited parenting programmes may be delivered and services (such as health) are brought in and coordinated around the family.

The Think Family/ FIP Manager will ensure that strategic work around the Think Family reforms is effective; undertaking promotion of the concept and further raise awareness; set up co-ordinating systems, monitoring and evaluation. They will manage the Family Intervention Project and its Key Workers, involving an intensive, interventionist approach to working with a small number of families.

We are looking for an experienced family worker with a background in social care, youth crime or parenting work. The post-holder will need to be able to demonstrate experience of assessment, taking lead responsibility for case work with families, working with families with a wide range of problems and partnership working with the statutory, voluntary and community sectors. The post-holder will have experience of setting up new projects, budget and project management, managing staff and reporting to Committees.

Fixed-term appointment initially until March 2010 with an expectation (funding permitting) of extension to March 2011.

This post is an ideal secondment opportunity to enhance career progression.

For an informal discussion, please contact Mary Hands, Parenting Coordinator 01344 354067.

Interview date: 29th July 2009