Lead Practitioner Family Help - 22.20 Hours

Role overview

Torbay Council is looking for a Family Help Lead Practitioner to join the Kinship Team within its Family Help Service. The service works with children, young people and families to prevent difficulties from getting worse when vulnerabilities are already present.

This post focuses on supporting kinship families and helping strengthen their wellbeing. The role requires substantial direct experience of working with children and families.

What the role involves

• Reviewing support plans for kinship families and making sure communication and working relationships with children, families and partner agencies remain effective.
• Offering practical and emotional help to kinship carers, including directing them to suitable services and attending professional meetings.
• Taking part in peer support activity and group work within the kinship delivery model to improve family support.
• Using evidence-informed interventions and relationship-based practice to work with families facing complex and multiple needs.
• Helping improve family functioning, child outcomes, relationships and school attendance.
• Working in line with the Families First Partnership reforms as services continue to change and develop.
• Supporting children and families at the right time with the right level of help.

What the council is looking for

The successful candidate should bring extensive experience of direct work, interventions and assessment with families, along with a values-led approach grounded in empathy, kindness and compassion. Experience in a relevant health, youth work, education or social care setting is also expected.

You should be comfortable working both independently and as part of a team, with a practical, solution-focused attitude. Strong written and spoken communication skills are essential, along with an understanding of the Children Act 1989.

The role demands a child-centred, strengths-based approach and an appreciation of how whole-family support can stop problems escalating.

Skills and knowledge required

• Ability to assess needs and create and deliver tailored support plans.
• Confidence in keeping clear, accurate records and reports.
• Skill in building positive relationships with children, young people and parents.
• Experience supporting families affected by family breakdown, homelessness, child protection concerns, substance misuse, tenancy breakdown and non-attendance at school.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Understanding of basic human needs, including physical, emotional and social needs.
• Knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and 2004, adoption law, and legislation related to crime, disorder, parenting orders and anti-social behaviour.
• Awareness of the challenges faced by families at risk of breakdown.
• Self-awareness and an understanding of personal strengths and areas for development.
• A record of continuous learning through education, training and work experience.

Qualifications and experience

• GCSE English at grade C or above, or an equivalent qualification.
• Experience working with children and young people in a health or social care setting, paid or voluntary.
• Experience supporting children, young people and families who may display challenging behaviour.
• Experience with health or social care needs and related services.

Additional information

Compensation: £31,537 to £34,434 per year.

Application deadline: 12 July 2026.

Department: Children’s Services.

Location: Torquay, England, United Kingdom.

The working pattern is 22.20 hours per week.

This post involves regulated activity and requires an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check may reveal spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions that have not been filtered, local police information, and checks against the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.

Interviews are expected during the week commencing 20 July 2026.

The position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

The organisation notes that vacancies may close early even when a deadline is published, so early application is encouraged.

For an informal discussion, contact Lisa Pitcher on 07920 502675 or [email protected].

Applicants must be able to carry out all spoken aspects of the role confidently and fluently in English.

A full job description is available via the council’s job description page.

The service offers good-quality supervision, learning and development support, training opportunities through its Learning Academy, and a culture described as High Expectations, High Support, High Challenge.