Location
Romford

Hours
Full time, including occasional evenings, weekends, early mornings and out of hours cover on a rota basis as required by line manager

Salary
Grade 8 - £49,056 to £53,172 per annum

About the Role
The Principal Family Practitioner is responsible for managing, delivering and coordinating frontline services from children centres and within the community as part of Early Help and Statutory services. The role aims to safeguard and keep children, young people and families together where possible, delivering support to children in or at the edge of care. A key focus is to promote and implement the extensive Family Intervention offer of support, sharing knowledge across multi-agency networks to enable children and families to lead happy, healthy lives.

The role includes holding a reduced caseload of families and undertaking family intervention activities as required. You will manage and oversee senior family practitioners to ensure duties are implemented in line with practice standards, legislation and guidance. Providing robust management oversight and supervision of casework within designated teams, ensuring performance development reviews are completed on time.

Assist the Team Manager and Service Manager in planning, delivering and developing services for vulnerable children, young people and families, identifying needs and challenges and escalating issues appropriately. Produce reports on team performance and activity, attend meetings and forums, and chair formal multi-disciplinary meetings, panels, reviews and conferences as required.

Support early mediation and resolution of complaints to prevent escalation. Responsible for daily review and allocation of step down cases from MASH and statutory services, applying appropriate thresholds to ensure seamless and timely service provision.

Facilitate case consultations with MASH decision makers and statutory services regarding case stepping down and up. Deputise for the Team Manager as needed and provide management cover for building Centre Hubs, reporting issues to facilities officers.

The duties are indicative and may be subject to change. You will also provide cover for other managers within the Early Help and Partnership Service at the equivalent grade and ensure all supervisions and performance development reviews are completed within timescale.

Experience
- Operational management of diverse teams including Family Practitioners, Senior Practitioners and Coordinators (desirable)
- Influencing service provision in partner agencies without direct line management (desirable)
- Promoting and implementing equal opportunity policies in employment and service delivery
- Coaching, mentoring and/or supervision with positive outcomes in children’s social care (desirable)
- Working within a systemic model of practice and using systemic supervision
- Setting clear priorities, objectives and standards and delivering to challenging performance targets
- Empowering and encouraging participation of families
- Preparing reports and assessments for children, including court presentations
- Guiding and motivating teams effectively, including goal setting, task delegation and providing feedback

About You
Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Able to work flexibly including out of hours. Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to manage and support teams effectively. Demonstrates resilience and the ability to manage complex and sensitive situations professionally.

Qualifications
- GCSE grade C or equivalent or above in English and Mathematics
- Practice qualification in childcare, education, health or social care, e.g. NVQ 3 or equivalent, or relevant experience