Early Help Worker

• JD_Early_Help_Worker

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

An exciting opportunity is now available within Wokingham Borough Council's Integrated Early Help Service as we look to recruit Early Help Workers to work within our busy team.

As an Early Help Worker, you will be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children aged 0 to 18 years. You will manage a defined caseload and work with children, young people, and their families to reduce risks associated with poor outcomes for children, including pre-birth. As a lead professional, you will complete 'whole family' Early Help Assessments to gain an understanding of the children's and family's needs and develop a time-limited action plan to help the family achieve identified outcomes. This includes ensuring that the voices of children and young people are heard and modelling positive parenting and co-parenting.

Benefits:

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

⭐ A generous annual leave entitlement of 28 days (rising to 33 days after 5 years continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays

⭐ Enrolment to an excellent local government pension scheme

⭐ An employee assistance programme including 24/7 wellbeing helpline

⭐ A range of local & lifestyle discounts

⭐ Use of a free onsite gym (located at Shute End office)

⭐ Salary sacrifice car & cycle to work schemes

⭐ And much more!

Key Responsibilities:

• Working closely with other support services, including Children's Social Care, Schools, Early Years, Health, and Domestic Abuse services to coordinate wrap around, strength-based support for families.
• Taking a lead professional role in organising and chairing "Team Around the Family" meetings to ensure plans are effective and families are making progress with healthy change and increase resilience
• To work closely with other professionals, including Early Years, schools and colleges, health and the voluntary sector to support joined up working and encourage sustainable change and ongoing support for families.

Candidate Requirements:

• Experience of working with children (0 to 18yrs) and families.
• Experience of managing a caseload of families with complex needs.
• Excellent communication skills, be creative, resilient, and adaptable to change.
• Essential to the work is a personal robustness to be able to cope with the demands of the role and an ethos of partnership and collaboration.
• Daily use of a car and a full driving licence is also essential for this post.

Our Area:

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools including 69 primary and 21 secondary, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. We have a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

If you’re interested in this exciting opportunity, click the link below and apply today!

Alternatively, for an informal conversation about the role, please contact Beccy Franklin at beccy.franklin@wokingham.gov.ukor Jo Hewitt atjo.hewitt@wokingham.gov.uk

Closing date: Monday 25th August 2025, 11pm

Interview date: TBC

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Whilst this is a fixed term contract appointment, for anyone already employed by Wokingham Borough Council this would be classed as a secondment if successful. Therefore, the usual permission requests for secondments apply and you must speak to your line manager in the first instance before applying.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.