Job Introduction
About Family Help
Family Help is our way of working that brings together Targeted Early Help and Child in Need support into a single, seamless offer. It replaces the traditional divide between early help and statutory services, making it easier for families to access support without stigma or duplication.
This role is based in the North of the City
The role
As a Family Help Lead Practitioner, you will be the main point of contact for children, young people and families who require support through the Family Help service. You will work directly with families to understand their strengths, identify areas where support is needed and help them achieve positive, sustainable change.
You will deliver evidence-based interventions and provide practical and emotional support to families experiencing a range of challenges, including parenting difficulties, mental health concerns, domestic abuse, exploitation and financial hardship. Through building trusting relationships and promoting family-led solutions, you will empower families to develop resilience, strengthen support networks and improve outcomes for their children.
The role also involves leading or contributing to Team Around the Family meetings, responding to emerging risks, supporting safeguarding processes and maintaining accurate case records and reports. You will be expected to work flexibly, using restorative and trauma-informed approaches to support families during both routine and crisis situations, helping to prevent issues from escalating and enabling children to remain safely within their family networks wherever possible.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who can make a real difference through skilled relationship-based practice.
You will have:
- A nationally recognised qualification such as NVQ Level 4 or a higher-level qualification, or equivalent experience.
- Experience of working with children, young people and families.
- Experience of multi-agency working.
- Knowledge of child development and safeguarding practices.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to engage and motivate families facing complex challenges.
- Excellent organisational and case management skills.
Please ensure that you download & read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.
Hybrid working arrangements: To be agreed with the line manager.
About Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.
We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.
Application process
We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.
As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.
We strongly encourage candidates to add all Career and Education History to their application, as CVs are not reviewed as part of the shortlisting process.
We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal
We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under our corporate commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it. We are unable to offer Sponsorship for this role.
Safeguarding
Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.
