Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Family Group Conference Coordinator |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Joint Commissioning Team |
Service |
Children's Services |
Business unit |
Front Door Services |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Team Manager - FGC |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Team Manager - FGC |
Salary grade |
G |
JE ref |
JCT59 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To be responsible for the coordination and chairing of Family Group Conferences (FGCs) and Reviews so that children, young people, and their families can be involved in decision making. This includes preparing all attendees, organising all the practical arrangements, chairing the meeting, and completing all paperwork involved in the FGC process.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- Successful Family Group Conferences take place.
- Families are empowered and given responsibility for coming up with their own ideas to address professional concerns.
- Good and safe plans are made for children and young people.
- All work will be completed within Service Standards as defined within the FGC Service’s Key Performance Indicators, and as needed, within legal frameworks such as the Public Law Outline process and Court Proceedings.
- The family will benefit from independent and neutral recordings of Family Plans that are court ready.
- There will be independent and neutral recordings of reasons for any FGC’s not taking place or when families have declined.
- FGC is a service that assists in:
- Reducing risk;
- Reducing Children’s Services intervention (step-down);
- Reducing the number of looked after children;
- Helping to create sustainable placements;
- Assists in creating plans for the reunification back home.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times and raising any concerns if they arise without delay.
- Responsible for ensuring that preparation for the FGC is undertaken with reference to Safeguarding Children Procedures and the legal framework which underpins agency intervention with children and families the appropriate procedures.
- To promote the Restorative Practice model in all aspects of the FGC process.
- To receive referrals from the Family Group Conference Manager and commence planning for the FGC within an agreed timescale.
- To ensure that the outcome of the FGC is relevant to the process of Care Planning within the Public Law Outline in securing the long-term plans for children.
- At all times to identify and address issues of race, culture, gender, sexuality, disability and/or language and to respond positively to any particular needs the family identify.
- To meet with the allocated social worker of each referral in order to gain all necessary information to complete the FGC process. This includes:
- Making a decision about the agencies and individuals that should be invited at the Family Group Conference (in part to then be discussed further with the parents and identified child or young person).
- Start the risk assessment process and act upon it as needed.
- To take responsibility for exclusions after deliberating on information and the advice of the social worker, consultation with the family, the FGC Manager, and the Service’s agreed policies.
- To offer families high quality Family Group Conferences to help them to make the best decisions for their children and young people. This includes:
- To visit and prepare extended family members and professionals prior to the FGC.
- Work with families, children, and young people to ensure all concerned members of the extended families are involved.
- Direct work with family members to ensure everyone’s views, particularly children’s, are listened to and considered.
- To assist in facilitating the recording of statements of people who cannot attend the FGC meeting but wish to participate in the FGC process and support the children or carer(s).
- Help families to plan the family group conference and understand the reasons for it.
- Responsibility for ensuring the FGC is efficiently organised, venues are booked, travel arrangements made, letters of invitation sent etc.
- To chair the FGC, offer negotiation or conflict resolution to keep the family on track and deal with any unexpected events.
- To write up and circulate plans that the family have made.
- To undertake reviews within 12 weeks of the original FGC.
- To contribute to staff training, awareness raising of the Family Group Conference model within Children’s Services and amongst other professionals.
- To deliver the service in accordance with Torbay Children’s Social Care guidance and procedures and Family Rights Group National standards for FGCs.
- To maintain confidentiality whilst working with Torbay Council and after the work has ceased.
- To attend supervision and be available to attend further training, as a part of professional development.
- The job holder will be expected to work within target budget constraints, which contribute to the budgeting of the FGC Service as a whole.
- To record and provide the data necessary to ensure the ability of the FGC manager to determine the efficiency of their work against key performance indicators.
- Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of service requirements, ensuring compliance of standards of performance for service provision.
- To participate in FGC research in a local and national context.
- Assist and participate in the development of policy and practice in the Family Group Conference Service and assist the manager to implement developments.
- Maintain a working knowledge of relevant legislation, research, codes of practice and departmental policies and procedures, ensuring these are adhered to and communicated within the post holder's areas of responsibility.
- To apply a working knowledge of children's legislation to practice within the FGC Service.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Work involves visiting family members in their own homes.
7. Physical demands of the post
8. Specific resources used by the post
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External: Partner Agencies, Children, Young People and Families.
- Internal: Children’s Services staff.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
- As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Family Group Conference Coordinator |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Joint Commissioning Team |
Service |
Children's Services |
Business unit |
Front Door Services |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Ability to mediate, negotiate, cope with the unexpected and manage conflict to enable children, young people and other family members to make a plan.
- Ability to remain independent, neutral and objective, resisting attempts by professionals or family members to make you take sides.
- Ability to be diplomatic and respectful, but not shirk from raising and discussing difficult issues in an open and frank manner when needed.
- Be well organised, reliable and able to work to deadlines.
- Confidence in convening and chairing large meetings.
- Confidence in working with family members and professional workers from social services, health and education.
- Ability to listen, take in and accurately record information and communicate – both spoken and written – in ways that are appropriate to and clearly understood by children, adults and professionals.
- Be able to use basic IT and computer equipment to record the work completed.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Additional specialism that may include additional skills or knowledge necessary to convene successful Family Group Conferences. These may include:
- Domestic violence;
- Mental health;
- Drug and alcohol misuse;
- Child Development;
- Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children;
- Youth Offending.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- An understanding of the family group conference approach; including an understanding of the ethos, principles and practice standards that underpin the model.
- An understanding of legislation and guidance relating to children and young people.
- An understanding of safeguarding procedures relating to children and young people.
- An understanding of child development and the needs of children.
Desirable knowledge
- Knowledge relating to drug & alcohol misuse, child abuse, domestic violence, youth offending or other child welfare issues.
- An understanding of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice principles.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Experience of working with children and families in a solution focussed way.
- Experience of managing/chairing meetings, dealing with conflict, mediating, and negotiating to achieve positive outcomes for children.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Previous work as an FGC co-ordinator.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- GCSE’s in English and maths.
- All successful applicants who have not previously completed the Essential Skills and Values Training (Three Day) for FGC Coordinators will be required to do so.
- Be an accredited FGC Coordinator or have a willingness to complete an Accredited FGC Coordinator programme within two years of working for Torbay FGC Service.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Any social work, teaching, mediation or other related qualifications.
- Essential Skills and Values Training (Three Day) for FGC Coordinators.
- Be an accredited FGC Coordinator.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e., manual handling).
- Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
- Ability to accommodate occasional homeworking.