Family Support Practitioner

We're passionate about improving the future for our children in care and want to ensure that they are provided with safe and nurturing care which offer them the stability that they need to thrive. If you are too, join us as a Family Support Practitioner and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities
The Fostering Service has developed an Emergency fostering hub scheme and we are looking for a passionate practitioner to work intensively to provide support to fostering families within a new Fostering initiative.
The hub will support 4 emergency bed foster carers who provide 2 weeks of intensive care and support to children before they move to a longer-term placement. The Intensive fostering scheme is due to launch in 2025.
This new and rewarding post will allow you to build positive relationships with children and young people and their foster carers and be part of a support hub.
As well as supporting the intensive fostering families, you will:
- be part of the wider fostering service as well as working closely with Family solutions and other stakeholders who support children
- undertake direct work with foster carers and children placed with them, using a range of therapeutic parenting interventions, supported by trauma informed principles
- contribute to assessments and care planning for children who have experienced significant developmental trauma
- maintain records and provide information manually and electronically including LCS
- be proactive in keeping your own professional knowledge and skills up to date through supervision, training and other development opportunities
- have the opportunity for training in therapeutic parenting and being part of reflective supervisions.
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 main function of the Suffolk fostering service is to recruit and retain foster carers, to ensure that foster carers are supported and supervised, to enable them to provide safe and secure care to children and support them to reach their full potential.
Trauma informed practice underpins the work that we achieve in the fostering service. We have access to clinical/ psychology support and work alongside multi-disciplinary and multi-agency colleagues. The team works closely with the placements team to identify the right care provisions for children.
This new initiative is an opportunity to grow and develop the service offer that we provide to children and foster carers, to ensure greater stability for children in an emergency situation and to reduce the number of potential moves that children experience.
The fostering service is a countywide service however, we have 4 bases across Suffolk to work from.

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, Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the 'Person Profile' section of the JPP.
- You should use the Supporting Statement template (docx).
- Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.
Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

£27,711 per annum (pro rata if part time)
- 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
- Fixed Term or Secondment (up to 12 months), 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!