Senior Contact Worker

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Family Time Service for the position of a Senior Contact Worker, we are looking for someone who has experience of working and communicating with children and their families, you will be required to collect and safely transport children from their placement to the family time venue and return them when the contact has concluded.

If you want to be a part of making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families then this this is the role for you.

As a Senior Contact Worker, you will be required to provide a written report from your observation of family time which is utilised by social workers and other professionals to inform further assessments.

Your personal skills should include the ability to establish effective working relationships with families, social workers and other professionals coupled with an ability to work independently when required, with support and supervision.

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

About you:

• Transporting and supervising children and young people in care for contact with their parents, carers or others as identified in the care plan.
• Collecting and safely transporting children to and from their supervised family time sessions.
• Establishing effective working relationships with families and constructively challenge negative aspects of care practice, seeking to empower parents to develop skills and find solutions to issues observed during family time and maintaining accurate and detailed recordings of child and parent/ significant other family members interactions within family time centres and other community settings.
• To continually and actively assess the risk to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. To ensure children are safeguarded with regard to working together to safeguard children 2015 and local safeguarding board procedures. Safeguarding disabled children 2009.
• Planning and prioritising workload effectively within established time frames and ensure that all written reports meet deadlines. Ensuring that safety and security is upheld by adhering to all appropriate policies, reporting and escalating issues appropriately as they arise.
• Supervising the family time between the children and their parents/ significant other family members and ensure that family time requirements and procedures are followed.
• Communicating effectively with children, parents, carers and professionals as and when required.
• Carrying out any other duties that fall within the scope of the role.

You will be required to hold a full current driving licence and have sole use of a car for work purposes and be available to work flexibly outside of core hours.

An enhanced DBS will be required.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham and have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the job early should we reach the required number of applications, therefore please ensure you submit your application and supporting statement early to avoid any disappointment.