Life Coaches - Family Safeguarding Children in Care

Hertfordshire Local Area Partnership; England; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A community support organization in the United Kingdom seeks Life Coaches to work with families and children at risk. The role requires hands-on coaching interventions and includes responsibilities such as home visits and facilitating sessions to promote positive relationships. Ideal candidates will have experience in youth services and hold a relevant qualification. This permanent role offers a salary of £34,434 to £37,280 per annum, alongside opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Flexibility in working hours

Opportunity for professional development

Qualifications

• Ability to engage effectively with vulnerable and challenging young people.
• Diving Licence and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with children and young people to achieve agreed goals.
• Conduct weekly home visits to support progress.
• Develop expertise in non-violent resistance to address challenging behaviours.
• Deliver interventions through individual and group sessions.

Skills

Experience and understanding of case management

Planning, delivering and evaluating support activities

Knowledge of issues affecting young people at risk of Child Exploitation

Engaging with vulnerable and challenging young people

Education

Relevant professional qualification in Youth/Community work, Social Care, Health or Education

Job description

Job Title: Life Coaches

Starting Salary: £34,434 progressing to £37,280 per annum (pro rata for part time).
Hours: 37.0 hours per week.
Location: Countywide
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Children Services

About The Team

Family is at the heart of our work in Hertfordshire. Our goal is to support children and young people in care to reunite with their families where it’s safe and in their best interests. The Family Safeguarding Children in Care (FSCIC) Phase 2 Team, part of the Family Safeguarding Service, was launched in 2022 to extend our successful Family Safeguarding model into the Children Looked After Service. Our multi‑disciplinary team uses Motivational Interviewing to help parents make positive changes. We bring together specialists in mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, neurodiversity, and trauma, alongside social workers, adolescent practitioners, and life coaches. We provide intensive, trauma‑informed support for young people aged 10–18 who are at risk of entering care, returning home after family breakdown, or facing exploitation and complex mental health challenges.

About The Role

We have several exciting opportunities to join our newly formed hub, bringing together the Reunification Team and Edge of Care Team. In this role, you’ll work directly with parents of children in care or at risk of entering care, helping them achieve positive change through coaching, parenting interventions, and relationship‑based practice. You’ll receive specialist training in Non‑Violent Resistance and be part of a service that values professional growth and development.

Key Responsibilities

• Work directly with children and young people (10+) and their families to achieve agreed goals through coaching, parenting interventions, and relationship‑based practice.
• Conduct weekly home visits to support progress and improve outcomes.
• Develop expertise in non‑violent resistance to address challenging behaviours linked to trauma, such as aggression, self‑harm, and substance misuse.
• Deliver interventions through individual and group sessions, promoting positive relationships and de‑escalation strategies.
• Provide practical support, including housing applications, benefit claims, and establishing routines.
• Facilitate sessions that strengthen parent‑child connections and offer constructive feedback.
• Make referrals to specialist colleagues and partner agencies as needed.
• Maintain accurate case records and attend relevant meetings.
• Build strong professional relationships to ensure timely, effective support for families.
• Work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of children and families.

About You

Essential

• Experience and understanding of case management including assessment, action planning and reviews.
• Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating support activities for and with young people and their carers.
• Knowledge of the issues affecting young people at risk of Child Exploitation.
• Knowledge and understanding of Equality and Diversity Issues.
• Knowledge of child development and adolescents, social, emotional and mental health needs.
• Ability to engage effectively with vulnerable and challenging young people in a variety of settings and to achieve positive outcomes with them.
• Diving Licence and access to a vehicle.

Desirable

• Knowledge of relevant legislation and policies relating to this service user group.
• Relevant professional qualification in Youth/Community work, Social Care, Health or Education.
• Previous experience of working with children and families.

Benefits of Working for Us

We offer flexibility to ensure families get the support they need. The role includes some evening and weekend work within extended service hours (weekdays 9am–10pm, weekends 2pm–10pm). You’ll work approximately 1 evening a week and 1 weekend day a month.

How to Apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV, including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert/job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You may also include a short covering paragraph.

Additional Information

Disability Confident: We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding: This role requires a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving Required: You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own transport or a company car.

English Fluency: The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC9 job profile. To hear more about this opportunity please contact [e-mail] for an informal discussion about the role. Interview dates: 13th and 14th January.