Family Group Conference Co–ordinator

| Family Group Conference Coordinator | £36,363 - £40,777 | Full time, 37 hours | Permanent | North Lancashire | Are you passionate about empowering families to create positive change for their children?  An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Lancashire County Council's accredited Family Group Conference (FGC) and Lifelong Links Service as a Family Group Conference Coordinator. In this rewarding role, you will work directly with children, young people, families and their wider support networks, facilitating Family Group Conferences that enable families to take a lead in decision-making and develop safe, sustainable plans for their children. You will play a key role in helping families identify strengths, build on existing relationships and find solutions that support positive long-term outcomes. You will primarily work across North Lancashire, covering Lancaster, Fylde and Wyre, with the flexibility to provide support across Central Lancashire when service needs require. As the role involves working with families in a variety of locations and at different times throughout the day, the ability to travel across a wide geographical area in a timely and flexible manner is essential. We are looking for candidates with direct experience of supporting children, young people and families where there are complex needs and involvement from statutory children's services. You will be a skilled communicator with the ability to build trusting relationships, work independently, and remain child-focused whilst supporting families to find their own solutions. Our Family Group Conference service places children, young people and their families at the heart of decision-making. We recognise that every family is unique, with its own culture, relationships, strengths and experiences. Family members and wider kinship networks are supported to come together, share ideas and create plans that promote children's safety, wellbeing and future success. In addition, our Lifelong Links programme helps children and young people reconnect safely with relatives and other trusted adults, strengthening lifelong relationships and building networks of support. This may include people they already know, family members they have lost contact with, or relatives they have never had the opportunity to meet.   About the role:  The role of the Co-ordinator is to co-ordinate and facilitate family group conferences which will involve visiting children, completing work with them to enable their participation.    You will visit families and their identified support network to prepare them for their family meeting.  The co-ordinator will be innovative, organised and self-motivated with experience and a passion to help empower children and families. Family Group Conference promotes children remaining within their own families and community. You will use a strengths-based approach to facilitate meetings, sometimes with a large number of people, that is child and family led, resulting in the creation of a shared family plan.  The service also undertakes Lifelong links. This involves working with children, young people and care leavers to find connections and promote lasting relationships that offer stability and security. The role involves working directly with children using tools such as mobility mapping, circles and genograms and timelines.  About you:  • Ability to understand and manage complex family dynamics empowering families to find their own safe and sustainable solutions. • Experience of working in a strength-based approach to empower families in working towards change that promotes the safety and welfare of their children.  • You will be able to hold a child centred approach in your work, developing creative and innovative ways to support all parties to participate and ensuring that the child's voice is heard. • You will have excellent communication skills to motivate and encourage vulnerable children and families who are experiencing multiple difficulties ensuring they are inclusive partners in the decision-making process.  • Knowledge of relevant childcare legislation.  • Ability to work as part of a team. • Sound knowledge and experience of safeguarding in accordance with policies and procedures.  • Competent IT skills.   Flexible working is essential which includes evenings, to meet the needs of children and young people and their families. Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.   Person Specification and Job Description  [https://lancashire-county-council-umbraco-sites.uksouth01.umbraco.io/media/yhgp4un0/job-description-and-person-specification-template-august-26.docx]   If you would like further information, please contact the FGC team via E-mail: FGCservice@lancashire.gov.uk [FGCservice@lancashire.gov.uk]   and somebody from the team will be in touch.  Closing date:  8th September 23.59  Proposed interview date:  30th September  and 1st  October at County Hall Preston  ( to be held face to face)    Local Government Reorganisation The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 20 28. If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2028, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation. Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.