ALLIANCE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES LIMITED JOB DESCRIPTION. Family Group Conference Coordinator

Transcription

1 ALLIANCE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES LIMITED JOB DESCRIPTION Title: Location: Service Area: Reporting to: Salary: Family Group Conference Coordinator Teesside Children, Young People and Families CYPF Service Lead 21,500 (22.5hrs per week) Job Summary Alliance Psychological Services is currently seeking to recruit Independent Family Group Conference Coordinators. Alliance use the Family Rights Group Model to bring family members and friends together to look at how they can collectively provide safe, supportive and sustainable solutions to the problems being experienced in caring for children within the family. Your role is to organise the meeting, prepare for the FGC and assist the family to come to their own decisions about how they will care for their child/ren. You will follow the Family Rights Group model of Conferencing and will understand the importance of facilitating the participation of young people and their families when they are working with welfare agencies. Good communication skills and the ability to engage quickly with clients will be essential. Mediation, negotiation and facilitation skills are vital to the post in order that differences of opinion can be expressed constructively. You will be required to travel widely so you must either have a current driving licence and provide a car, or be able to use other appropriate means of travel

2 The post holder will be expected to work within Alliances policies and procedures of lone-working at home procedures. The post will require some working in the evenings and a degree of flexibility is required. Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory reference checks and an enhanced DBS disclosure certificate. Main Duties and Responsibilities The Co-ordinator acts as an independent and neutral facilitator of the Family Group Conference process To receive referrals and to meet with the referrer and relevant professionals to identify the reasons for the request, clarify concerns and expectations and agree respective roles and responsibilities. To meet with family members to outline the family group conference process and to map out and negotiate the attendance of a family wide network (which may include significant others who may not be blood related). To invite all relevant family and extended family members and professionals to attend the meeting. To prepare the children, family members and relevant others for the meeting. To prepare relevant professionals for the meeting and to assist them in producing written information for the family which is clear and concise and provides information about concerns and potential resources. To exclude certain family member(s) if necessary, in the interests of the child/ren and arrange if appropriate an alternative method of contribution to the process. To ensure the meeting is held at the appropriate time and location to suit the family group.

3 To chair the Family Group Conference and ensure that the family has clear and usable information explained by professionals to inform their deliberations. To ensure that the family group has private time without professionals to consider a plan. To chair the re-convened group of family and professionals to discuss and agree the plan recognising the resource implications of the agreement. To be responsible for ensuring that, where appropriate, plans for reviewing the family s decisions are made and agreed at the meeting. To accurately record all stages of the planning and meeting process, specifying the family s plan and agreement or not with it. To record any agreed review process, and to circulate these details to relevant persons. To adhere to good practice guidelines. This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in Alliance s organisational objectives and priorities.

4 PERSON SPECIFICATION CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES Psychological Therapist - Families REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE Qualifications and Training Qualification in a relevant caring profession, e.g. Diploma in Social Work, Health, Teaching, Youth or Community Work. Family Rights Certificate in Family Group Conferencing

5 Knowledge & Experience Knowledge of the Children Act and other relevant legislation Knowledge and understanding of child development and associated risk factors Knowledge and understanding of family dynamics and family processes. Including families with multiple and complex needs Awareness of cultural and racial issues Experience in childcare / children's services Experience of family work / groupwork Experience of mediation/ negotiation and facilitation with individuals or groups Experience of effective partnership working to improve outcomes for children and their families Chairing and facilitating meetings Knowledge involving of the children Family and Group their Conference families model or practice Knowledge of the Family Group Conference Model

6 Skills and Abilities Excellent communication, listening and negotiation skills. A commitment to a partnership approach to service development and delivery Ability to develop an understanding of FGC model Ability to run information and consultation meetings Good report writing skills Ability to be an effective administrator and maintain clear written records Ability to contribute to the evaluation of the Project Organisational skills Ability to work to agreed time limits Good IT skills Personal Qualities Ability to work well as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Resilient under pressure Ability to initiate and maintain productive working relationships Ability to manage conflict