Family Time Worker

Solihull's Family Time service is a new, bespoke team working with children and families across the borough. This is an exciting time to join as we continue to invest in the service, creating a team which will work within the communities. As part of the Family Time team, you will work within a dedicated team of experienced professionals working across the family time centre and in the community. Due to the nature of this service, the posts will require a flexible approach to working your 37 hours, as the contact centre will operate from 9.30am - 8.00pm., As a Family Time Worker, you will be providing a Family Time service under the management and direction of the Team Leader and Coordinator, including the supervision and assessment of dedicated Family Time to children and young people looked after by the Local Authority. You will be responsible for undertaking the supervision of Family Time in line with the child's plan, and record your observations on the child's electronic file. You will ensure Family Time is promoted and delivered in line with the child/young person's care plan and in a manner that ensures the child's ongoing safety and that their welfare is paramount. You will need to be able to transport children/young people, and on occasions adults, to and from family time and ensure that parents, carers and children are aware of the arrangements and plan for the family time.

We are seeking experienced, passionate and motivated individuals to be part of our new Family Time Service as Family Time Workers. Due to the nature of this post, this role requires flexible working hours to meet the needs of the service and there will be a requirement to work some evenings till 8pm and some Saturdays within the 37 hours per week.,

• A relevant Level 2 qualification in Children and Young People OR Ability to demonstrate relevant experience in a similar role.
• Experience of working on a 1-1 basis with children, young people, or their families in a social care, educational or voluntary setting.
• An understanding of the additional vulnerabilities and complex needs of children and young people in need (which may include children with mental health needs; emotional, social, or behavioural difficulties and disabilities) and barriers to communicate with them.
• Experience of using Case Management Systems and Microsoft Office Packages, including Word and Outlook (or equivalent)., This post will require an enhanced DBS check.
This is an essential car user post as the demands of the job make it operationally essential and there is a contractual requirement to make a suitable vehicle available to ensure the requirements of the job can be carried out effectively. Applicants must be able to drive, have a driving licence and be a car owner/have access to a car, however for disabled applicants, reasonable adjustments will be made where required. This post at Solihull Council is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers.

We've implemented a new system from Monday 4th March which will improve your candidate experience! To access your candidate portal for our new system, head to https://solihull.wm-jobs.co.uk/members/ About Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Solihull is regarded as a popular and vibrant place to live in the UK. As one of the most prosperous towns in the Midlands, almost two thirds of our borough is designated as green belt. We have over 1,500 acres of parks across the borough, with 16 Green Flag Awards. Solihull is very well connected, with great transport links such as the M40, M42 and M6 all close by, and an excellent rail network, plus, of course, an international airport. We are home to the award-winning Touchwood Shopping Centre, National Exhibition Centre, Resorts World Birmingham, and the Resorts World Arena. It is an exciting time for Solihull, although we are a relatively small local authority (c. 6000 employees), we still have ambitious plans including the development of UK Central and HS2. Here at Solihull Council, we want to ensure that all our citizens have an equal chance to share in Solihull's success. We do this by putting our customers at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our employees are the key factor in achieving our vision and as such, we are always on the lookout for talented individuals, who want to make a real positive difference to people's lives and can help us to continue building on our success. Both Smarter Ways of Working and Employee Wellbeing are key Council Priorities. The transition to Smarter Ways of Working has presented us with the opportunity to re-think how and where we work. With the option to access portable technology, dependent upon the requirements of the role, a lot of our people are not bound to a single workplace or traditional ways of working, with many choosing to spend a good proportion of their week working from home. Our people told us that they value flexibility, and that choice enables them to have a better work-life balance, manage family responsibilities, enhance their personal wellbeing, and continue to deliver excellent outcomes for the residents of Solihull. Our people are our number one asset, and our aim is to have a healthy, happy engaged and thriving workforce. Wellbeing is at the heart of our employee offer and we are a bronze accredited West Midlands Combined Authority Thrive at Work employer. This recognises our commitment and action in support of employee wellbeing; we are currently working towards silver accreditation. Unpaid carers carry out a key role within our community and know that this can be challenging when combined with employment. Our Carer's Policy and the ongoing support we give to our employees has resulted in us winning Employer of the Year 2022 at the Carer Friendly Awards.

In return, we offer the opportunity to work in a motivational and supportive environment where your contribution will be highly valued, and your personal development actively supported. We can offer professional guidance from our recently appointed permanent, experienced and supportive management team and the opportunity to further develop your skills. In addition to a broad suite of high-quality training packages, our people also enjoy a hybrid approach to flexible working, competitive salaries and a generous benefits package that includes a focus on staff wellbeing:
• Potential for flexible working and agile working arrangements
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme - a 24 hour independent, free, and confidential advice and support service
• Family and carer friendly policies
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• The opportunity to buy up to 10 days additional leave per year.
This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a new team here at Solihull at a transformational stage of our improvement journey. If you are ready to join our ambitious team - and make a tangible impact and positive difference to families' lives at this critical time - then we would be delighted to receive your application.,
• Competitive salaries including, for those at the top of their scale, the opportunity to receive a non-consolidated lump sum;
• A range of flexible working options;
• Annual leave starting at 25 days and rising to 30 days after 5 years' service in addition to public holidays with an opportunity to purchase up to 10 additional days' holiday per year;
• A generous flexitime scheme (available for most roles);
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme;
• A wide range of learning and development opportunities;
• A range of family friendly policies;
• Employee benefits including subsidised travel passes, Cycle 2 Work Scheme, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and staff discounts.
Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. As users of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who demonstrate they meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. For roles eligible for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check this will be indicated in the advert and supporting recruitment documents. Where the post involves working with children, other vulnerable groups or in a position of trust it is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Further guidance is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945449/rehabilitation-of-offenders-guidance.pdf Please note, where sufficient numbers of applications are received, we reserve the right to close a vacancy before the advertised closing date. We therefore advise that you submit your application as soon as possible.