- Suffolk County Council – 3 positions - £27,711 per annum (pro rata for part time) - 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available - Post 1: West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU - Post 2: Landmark House, Ipswich, IP1 5PB - Post 3: West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU or Landmark House, Ipswich, IP1 5PB - Permanent Your role and responsibilities In this role you'll work closely with children and families facing challenges, helping them build stronger bonds and brighter futures and to remain living at home. Your role will be dynamic and impactful – from conducting assessments to crafting personalised support plans for families to make improvements in their lives. You'll be the person who spots potential risks and ensures children's safety by escalating issues as soon as they happen. As a natural communicator, you'll foster positive relationships between families and support networks. Plus, you'll encourage engagement in group activities that bring families together. If you're passionate about transforming lives and creating lasting change in your community, this could be your dream job. - To work directly with vulnerable children and their families to support them remaining living at home. - Undertake assessments and implement plans to support children and their families to make improvements in their life. - To identify risk and safeguarding concerns and escalate appropriately. - To develop supportive working relationships between families, carers, children, and external agencies. - To encourage engagement in group work and activities. You will need - experience of undertaking direct, activity based and group work with children and families - to be able to build strong, effective relationships with the child, young person and family - to find solutions which promote the wellbeing of children and their family - experience and knowledge of assessment - motivation to learn and develop skills. You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. The team The Family Solutions Team deliver intensive targeted support to families who are experiencing a range of complex needs, for example substance misuse, domestic violence and families who are suffering poor family relationships. The Family Solutions Team provide an SOS+ trauma-informed, restorative approach to enable caregivers to recognise, acknowledge and fully understand the outlined worries and support them to make positive changes by building on and empowering them with skills, knowledge, and safety measures. The Family Solutions team will specifically offer an intervention to: - divert children and young people from entering care (Prevent entering care) - support children to return home following a stay in Emergency Bed Accommodation in which a 10-day period of Child in Care has been agreed as a short break. An immediate 4+ week package will be offered to include a family network meeting. (Unplanned breakdown) - reunify children from a care setting where it has been assessed as safe to do so (Reunification) - stabilise placements by supporting children, young people, and their placement providers where there is a risk of the child entering unregulated placements (Restore and prevent). Empowering Everyone We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report. For more information Please contact Emma Orchard ( she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 07860 833264 or emailing emma.orchard@suffolk.gov.uk How to apply Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx). Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application. Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template. 1. Describe a situation where you had to develop a support plan for a family facing multiple challenges. How did you prioritize their needs and what strategies did you use to implement the plan? 2. How do you build strong, effective relationships with children, young people, and their families? Can you provide an example of a successful relationship you have built? 3. Describe a situation where you had to use your initiative to find a solution to a complex problem involving a child or family. What was the problem, and what steps did you take to resolve it? 4. How do you ensure that the needs of children and families from different racial, cultural, and religious communities are identified and met? Can you provide an example? Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process. Closing date: 11.30pm, 3 June 2025 Interview date: 17 June 2025 This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities. In return, you’ll enjoy: up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase training and encouragement to expand your knowledge a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation diverse and active staff networks flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day Plus lots more! If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).. Location : Ipswich, IP1 5PF