The Role
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Family Support Worker to join our Harm Outside the Home Team (HOTH). The HOTH team are responsible for undertaking return home conversations for those Children who have been reported as missing across North Somerset. Children who may not be known to our Children Social Care, may be on Child Protection Plans or may be in the Care of the Local Authority.
Key Responsibilities
- Organise missing return home conversations
- Complete missing return home conversations, within 72 hours
- Ensure missing return home conversations is uploaded to the Local Authority System
- Undertake specific pieces of work with young people in North Somerset, who may be vulnerable to exploitation, which could include sexual and criminal abuse. You will be supported by your manager to plan and implement the work you undertake.
This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.
Work Style
At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.
The role falls into the category of Flexible Worker Type, which means you can expect to work in the following way:
- 2-3 days in the office
- Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
- Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.
Essential Criteria
- Good all-round education with possible qualification in work with children or young people to a minimum NVQ Level 3 or 4 (or working towards this).
- Knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable children
- Experience working with our most vulnerable child or children and their families where there are safeguarding concerns, particularly relating to harm outside the home
- Relevant qualification (Level 3 or equivalent experience in Health & Social Care, Youth Work or similar)
- Good understanding of contextual safeguarding, including risks such as exploitation (CSE/CCE), missing episodes, peer-on-peer harm, and youth violence
- Ability to engage and build relationships with hard-to-reach young people and undertake direct work in community settings
- Experience contributing to risk assessments and safety planning (e.g. exploitation risk, Safer Me plans)
- Ability to manage and de-escalate high-risk or crisis situations
- Strong communication skills and experience working effectively within a multi-agency network (e.g. Police, Education, Social Care)
- Ability to work independently, flexibly, and outside typical office hours where required
- Competent IT skills and ability to maintain accurate case recordings
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of working within a Harm Outside the Home / Contextual Safeguarding environment
- Ability to engage hard-to-reach young people and deliver direct work and targeted interventions
- Experience supporting missing children, including undertaking Return Home Conversations
- Understanding of exploitation risks (CCE/CSE) and experience contributing to risk assessments and safety planning
- Experience working within a multi‑agency setting (e.g. Police, Education, Social Care)
- Strong communication and recording skills, with experience using systems such as LCS
- Excellent communication and recording skills, with the ability to produce clear case notes
- Ability to work flexibly in community settings and manage a varied caseload
What We Offer
- Competitive salary and benefits
- Flexible working arrangements dependant on meeting service delivery
- Opportunities for professional development
- Staff groups
- Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
- Dedicated Wellbeing Team
- Salary sacrifice cycle to work and Electric vehicle schemes
Equal Opportunities
At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Disability Confident Leader
As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.
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