Family Connector

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's support organization in Birmingham is seeking a Family Connector to help locate and engage family members for children in care. The role requires strong research and communication skills, alongside an empathetic approach to working with families. This hybrid position offers a rewarding opportunity to positively impact children's lives as you assist in building stable family connections and promote well-being. Applicants should have relevant qualifications and experience in family support. Enhanced DBS check required.

Benefits

Generous leave allowance

Local Government pension scheme

Career development programs

Qualifications

• Experience of working directly with families in crisis.
• Excellent research skills using various tools.
• Keen interest in genealogy, completing genograms.

Responsibilities

• Engage relatives of children for involvement in care planning.
• Promote safe and stable connections for children.
• Support family-led decision-making processes.

Skills

Research and investigative skills

Communication skills

Ability to work collaboratively

Empathy and sensitivity with families

Education

Level 3 qualification in Family Support or similar

Tools

Family history databases

Social media

Job description

About the role:

All families have strengths andFamily Connectorsplay an important role in finding positive supporters for children so we are looking for someone who shares our passion for ensuring that children and their families are always be involved in planning for care and protection where it is safe to do so.

Family Connectorshavethe responsibility of searching for family members, fictive kin or natural support for children and young people referred by social care practitioners. It is a neutral role and theFamily Connectorwill use a range of tools and techniques to locate and engage relatives of children and young people to the greatest possible extent. This could include indirect methods such as deep file searches, using social media and genealogy tools to complete a family tree through to direct methods such as DNA testing, mobility mapping and interviewing family in order to ensure that no stone is left unturned. The information found will be collated and shared with the referring practitioner so that they can, where appropriate, involve them in future planning and decision making.

The goals are to:

• Promote safe, stable and healing connections for children and young people, preventing unnecessary family separation.
• Support children and young people in developing a healthy sense of identity and provide family members with the opportunity to meet the needs within a family system
• Promote a timely and permanent exit from formal care systems for children who have to live away from family
• Enhance family led decision making such as family meetings, Family Group Conferences and Lifelong Links

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection.This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham and have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

About you:

If you have always fancied yourself as a budding detective and feel you’ve got the skills that it takes to track people down then this will be an exciting opportunity for you. You will need:

• Experience of working directly with kindness, sensitivity and empathy with families in crisis. A level 3 qualification in Family Support or similar, along with proven experience of working in the community and family homes is required Excellent research and investigative skills and an ability to work efficiently and accurately with a range of tools such as family history data bases, social media and other data sources including online and paper based records. Keen interest in the field of genealogy and experience of completing genograms and ecomaps Ability to work collaboratively within a team with strong communication skills Ability to use your initiative in order to organise work and manage deadlines effectively

In addition, the successful candidate will:

• Havea working knowledge of child protection practice and child care legislation and understanding of the role of other agencies / professionals who work with children and families.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with a good level of computer literacy.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends and to be able to travel across a wide geographical area in a timely and flexible manner at various times of the day.
• Demonstrate a willingness to attend relevant training courses to improve job skills and to meet business objectives. Continuing professional development and participate in on the job training as required.
• An Enhanced DBS will be required for the role

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work- be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment- enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development- benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits- take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values
We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the job early should we reach the required number of applications, therefore please ensure you submit your application and supporting statement early to avoid any disappointment.