Children's Centre Support Workers (Epping Forest area)

Job Purpose:

To co-ordinate and deliver an efficient information, network and support service to families/guardians/carers with children particularly encouraging young parents to develop their personal, learning and childcare skills.

Responsibilities:

To co-ordinate the support and advice given to families by the children’s centre.

To deliver information to families using the centre (or via outreach services) and to maintain appropriate relationships with referral agencies, schools and community based organisations.

To co-ordinate parents’ support services which are holistic and compliment the children’s centre core offer, including sign-posting to health services, childcare, learning and training and employment services.

To co-ordinate and deliver a range of programmes aimed at assisting parents to address the issues raised in child care and development.

To ensure that appropriate support, guidance and encouragement is provided to parents and deliver effective services with measurable, recorded outcomes.
 
To keep comprehensive records and produce regular management information reports on programme performance, contributing to the achievement of Key Performance Indicators.

To develop a knowledge base of current and emerging best practice and to maintain a high quality service within the children’s centre.

To undertake training to develop specialist skills as required by East Potential.

To promote and foster collaborative working with other staff members.

To identify specific needs such as financial, special needs, vulnerability or substance misuse and refer according to professional and statutory protocol or support/signpost to other support or professional help, co-ordinating responses with colleagues and reporting all incidents in line with East Potential and Epping District Council’s legal and organisational policies and procedures.

To provide support to the Children’s Centre Community Manager to support childminders and carers and to map local services and identify gaps in provision.

Qualifications & Skills:

GCSE English & Maths or equivalent.

NVQ level 2 or equivalent in relevant field.

Experience of working with children and families and awareness of their needs.

Knowledge and understanding of the theory and practical skills necessary in creating a good environment for the development of children.

Knowledge of the issues faced by disadvantaged communities.

Experience of working to tight deadlines.

Experience of facilitating group work.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Excellent organisational skills.

Highly developed oral and written communication skills.

IT literate, MS Office applications, database systems.

Able to show initiative.

Ability to develop systems and processes to manage and deliver required objectives.