Any Family Support Workers on here?

[pos1t1vePolly]

Any application/interview tips for the above post?

I currently work in a primary school in an admin role ... I'm bored, the pay is awful & I don't really need term time any more. I'm looking to up-skill. Anyone got any advice?

Thanks!

I manage a team of family support workers. When we recruit, we always look for previous experience of supporting families, facing a variety of challenges - mental health, DV, debt, substance abuse and so on. We also look for experience of working alongside social care - and of their procedures. Also, a knowledge of the tools that support early intervention/family support - for example parenting programmes, TAFs etc.

@Springquartet thanks for your reply. I've sat in on TAF/CIN/CP meetings in my role as Attendance Lead and have made referrals to Social Care & Early Help so I'm aware of lots of the processes. I think I've got the knowledge & skills - it's just getting it down on paper!

I would suggest going through the job spec and thinking of a couple of specific examples of tasks that you have done, relating to each of the main points. Obviously you won't have space to use them, but they will be handy to mention at an interview.

As you then go through each of the points, give an outline of your experience, thinking back to the examples.

For example, in my role as xx, I have made referrals to Children's Social Care in consultation with the school's Safe Guarding Lead. This would normally arise x times per term. This has involved completing a (name of form) with information and evidence of our concerns, tracking its progress and ensuring that the school is informed of the outcome of the referral.

When we interview for these posts, we often find that candidates apply but have only had peripheral experience of some of the processes. It's therefore really important to have specific examples to use.

@Springquartet that's really helpful. Thanks very much x

I meant to say, add an anonymised example, if you are addressing an important point on the spec. For example, in the case of the point above you could say. - for example I made a referral to social care because.....and give some brief details about the circumstances. It then shows the people shortlisting that you have had sufficient experience of this sort of task.