Family Group Conference Convener- Family Group Conference Service, Edge of Care Service.

Salary Grade 9

4 x 37 hours posts- permanent

2x 18 ½ hour posts – permanent

Department: PEOPLE- Families First Looked After Services.

Location: Covering Staffordshire – Office bases, Stafford, Newcastle, Leek and Burton.

The Family Group Conference Service is part of the Edge of Care Service, which offers support for children and young people to remain safely within their family home or network.

Family Group Conference (FGC) originated in New Zealand and is a means of planning for children and young people who face difficulties.  The model places the family at the centre of the planning process, with professionals providing information and resources – alongside fulfilling any statutory responsibilities.

The family is offered the opportunity to produce a plan that responds to the needs of the child, addresses any concerns, uses the information shared by the professionals and draws on their own expertise in relation to their children.

The term family is broadly interpreted to encourage attendance at the meeting of all those who are part of the child’s network.

Staffordshire County Council adopted the use of FGCs in 2005. Staffordshire FGC offers a county wide service through a Team Manager, Business Support Assistant and a team of independent FGC providers including both Coordinators and Advocates for children and adults.

These posts have been created due to an exciting opportunity, where Staffordshire FGC will be working with the Department of Education on a project where we will be providing FGC’s to Staffordshire’s families pre proceeding.

The role for this post will be to facilitate the Family Group Conference, enabling Staffordshire’s families to have the opportunity to develop their own plans to support their children to remain safely within their family.

Applicants must have significant experience of working with children / young people and their families, be able to use Mediation skills, negotiate and manage conflict, whilst having high level of organisational skills. You will have confidence in convening and chairing large meetings effectively whilst meeting time frames. The ability to remain independent, neutral and objective, resisting attempts by professionals or family to take sides and be diplomatic and respectful but manage difficult issues that need raising.

There is an expectation that these conferences will be facilitated at evenings and weekends as well as during the day.

To apply for this post, click on the ‘Apply’ button below.

By clicking on the apply button you will be redirected to Staffordshire County Councils online application website. Please note, you are only able to view the Job Description and Person Specification on the WM Jobs  board NOT via Staffordshire County Council's online application site.  

To submit your application, you will need to register an account on the website (NB this is a separate login to WM Jobs). 

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If you experience any technical issues accessing or completing the application form, please contact recruitment@staffordshire.gov.uk

Closing Date: 3rd November 2019
Interview Date: 11^th November and 12^th November 2019

Successful applicants will need to attend 3 days Family Group Conference training will take place on Sat /Sun -18^th and 19^th and Sat 25^th January 2020

For more information about the role please contact: Katharine Pardy-McLaughlin on 07814772096

Please be aware, only application forms completed online will be accepted. We will not accept CV’s or Word application forms.

This Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.