Outreach Worker

SPELTHORNE FAMILY CENTRES

JOB DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION

ROLE TITLE:

Outreach Worker

REPORTING TO:

Family Centre Manager

BASED:

HOURS:

SALARY:

Spelthorne Family Centres - Buckland

Part Time – 30 Hours per week  (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday)

£16.90 per hour (FTE £26,364)

Surrey Care Trust is a local charity that helps people to improve their skills for life, work and learning through
counselling,  education,  mentoring  and  volunteering.  Our  programmes  support  disadvantaged  families  in
improving  their  chances  in  life.  Through  our  programmes  we  are  enabling  people  throughout  Surrey  to
overcome  the  disadvantage  of  low  skills,  poor  educational  achievement,  limited  opportunities  and  tough
financial circumstances.

Work Context
The  multi-agency  approach  of  Family  Centres  is  at  the  heart  of  Surrey  County  Councils  Effective  Family
Resilience and Early  Help Strategy. Family Centres  play  a central role in providing Early Help, in improving
outcomes for all children and young people 0-19 (25yrs with additional needs), and in reducing inequalities in
outcomes  between  the  most  disadvantaged  children  and  the  rest.    Family  Centres  provide  access  to  high
quality Early Help and targeted services, health, family support and employment related services. All services
developed ensuring that the needs of children are paramount.  Each Family Centre is intended to become the
first port of call for families in need or requiring additional support with the challenges that parents face every
day bringing up their children

Our Vision
Surrey to be a place where vulnerable and excluded families are given the opportunity, skills and support to
achieve their potential and make a positive contribution.

Our Mission
To tackle disadvantage, social exclusion and hardship in local communities. To reach out to families to equip
them with the skills to improve their economic situation, to reduce social isolation and break the cycle of
disadvantage.

Overall purpose of the role
To work in partnership with other staff to ensure all families working with the centre feel appropriately
supported and receive the right help and support needed to enable them to appropriately encourage and
promote the development of their child/ren’s health needs; the positive development of their social,

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emotional well-being and ongoing learning and developmental needs (i.e. ensuring children receive the best
possible start in life).

To provide targeted Early Help support and specialist services to families in Spelthone Borough and ensure
effective and timely support is offered in line with the Surrey’s ‘Effective Family Resilience’ Framework.

To work in close partnership with professionals, to provide co-ordinated help to identified children, young
people and their families including those at risk of social exclusion and those at risk of not meeting their
milestones.

To provide appropriate outreach and family support to referred families; assessing need and subsequently
reviewing the impact of support and interventions provided.

Work Context:
A multi-agency approach and ‘Effective Family Resilience’ Framework is at the heart of the Family Centres
Support programme, which aims to provide effective targeted support to children and young people 0-19
(25yrs) and their families. As a result, Family Centres will play a central role in helping to improve the
outcomes for children and their families and in reducing the inequalities in outcomes that could exist
between the most disadvantaged children and their peers. Spelthorne Family Centres will provide access to
high quality support and provision at the earliest opportunity, and is aimed at reducing or eliminating
barriers to access.

The post holder will play a key role in the provision of early help and targeted services by providing outreach
support to children, young people and their families by delivering timely and targeted intervention
programmes / workshops.

This role will require the post holder to work with families as a lone worker and be responsible for adhering
to personal safety guidance. Furthermore, to ensure that family support is delivered effectively, the post
holder will be required to liaise with other staff and other partners to plan, monitor and evaluate services.

Line Management/Supervisory Responsibility:
None

Budget Responsibility:
None

Duties and Responsibilities
•  To work with the centre manager and senior outreach staff to support service delivery and outcomes for

children, young people and their families.

•  Complete required assessments in line with Surrey’s Effective Family Resilience Framework and Family

Centre Specification.

•  To undertake direct work with children and young people who are assessed as having complex needs
and require targeted early help both in the home (lone working), in school at the centres or other
suitable venues .

•  To provide early help support using a variety of interventions including motivational interviewing,

solution focused approaches and accredited parenting strategies.

•  Complete case related reports and maintain records in accordance with practice guidance.
•  Assist in the development and delivery of project work; working with other staff to provide information

•

and feedback.
Liaise, communicate and work in partnership with other internal departments, partner organisations,
agencies and/or contractors and engage with the community and volunteers.

•  Assess and manage risk in carrying out duties and raising issues where appropriate with Centre Manager.

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•  Assess and manage risk associated with assigned cases and service delivery to ensure safeguarding of

service users.

General:
•
Implement and comply with all agreed policies, procedures and guidelines
•  Support the aims, vision and ethos of the Family Centre and Surrey Care Trust.
•  To keep informed about appropriate services available for children and young people 0-19 (25yrs)
•  To liaise with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to safeguard children and young people
•  Comply with Surrey Care Trust policies and procedures relating to child protection, equal opportunities,
health and safety, confidentiality and data protection; reporting concerns to appropriate persons

•  Work as part of a team to ensure the best possible service is provided to all centre users
•  To attend relevant meetings and training to keep up to date with best practice and support continuous

professional development

•  Participate in the supervision and appraisal system of your own performance
•  Be proactive in matters relating to Health and Safety
•  To undertake other duties that may be required from time to time and that are commensurate with the

general duties of the post

Role Summary:
Roles at this level provide a practical front line support service helping with advice and guidance, managing a
varied caseload, and working as necessary with community, professional groups and local organisations to
ensure provision of support. They have practical knowledge of the procedural framework, service user group
needs, and are authoritative on procedures of some complexity and variety, with an in-depth knowledge and
understanding of a particular functional area. Planning and organising is a key element, mainly in terms of
planning own time, planning and prioritising for the weeks ahead. Although most work will follow
established patterns, initiative is needed to resolve problems and queries based on experience and
judgement, mainly without reference to others, but with access to clear guidance.

NOTE:  This job description is intended as a working document for the position outlined.  It is not exhaustive
but indicates the wide range of duties involved.

The job description will form part of the organisation’s performance management process and will be kept
under continuous review to reflect the change and growth within the Trust.

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Person Specification

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

NVQ Level 3 in childcare, health, education,
social care or equivalent

Knowledge of issues in Health for children and
families

Good level of education - GCSE English and
Maths A-C

Clear understanding of the value and process of
monitoring and evaluation

Demonstrate practical knowledge and
experience of supporting vulnerable groups

Surrey County Council Superuser training

Understanding of the legislation that underpins
child protection and keeping them safe from
harm

Is able to identify and develop ideas relevant to
the needs of the Children’s Centre

Knowledge and training in safeguarding
children

Working in a voluntary or paid capacity in a
community setting e.g. residents’ association,
community group, playgroup etc.

Knowledge or experience of facilitating
parenting programmes

Is able to work constructively as a member of a
team

Knowledge of TAF, CIN, CP and Early Help
processes

Occasional evening work (advance notice given)

Clear understanding of equal opportunities
issues and is able to relate this into practice

Has vision, enthusiasm, good self-presentation,
determination, dedication and a sense of humour

Has good communication and IT skills including
the use of Microsoft Office

Willingness to travel as required, have a driving
license and own car

Commitment to continuous training and
professional development

An Enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.

For an initial, informal conversation about this role please contact Janette Breese, Family Centre Manager on
07919 213905 or email janette.breese@surreycaretrust.org.uk

To submit an application please complete an application form and send it to
recruitment@surreycaretrust.org.uk.

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