• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Haverhill House, Haverhill, CB9 9HB - Community based
• Salary: £28,598 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours:1 x 37 hours per week, 1 x 29.6 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent

We’re passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Family Support Practitioner and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

You will

• work directly with children and their families in their homes, delivering targeted family support interventions designed to enhance safety, informed by comprehensive risk and needs assessments.
• collaborate closely with Schools, Social Care, Youth Justice, Health professionals as well as others to develop and implement holistic, multi-agency family support plans.
• support the delivery of supervised Family Time (contact arrangements) for children in care, ensuring a safe and positive experience.
• also contribute to the delivery of group work sessions for children or their parents/carers.

You will need

• to have relevant transferable skills, experience, or expertise from previously working with children and families.
• a strong understanding of safeguarding practice is essential, along with the ability to assess, plan, and intervene effectively in complex family situations.
• excellent verbal and written communication skills, IT proficiency, and the ability to work independently are crucial.
• a valid driver’s licence and access to a personal vehicle for work are required.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, we would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Haverhill Family Support Team is a highly experienced and supportive team, committed to developing new members to strengthen our well-established service. Our team culture is built on collaboration, ensuring we support one another in delivering the highest quality service to children and families, fostering positive and lasting change.

We take a proactive approach, building and maintaining strong relationships to provide both support and constructive challenge where necessary. It is a privilege to facilitate meaningful change and witness the positive, long-term outcomes for the children and families we serve.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Serk Suleyman for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01284 758168 or emailing serk.suleyman@suffolk.gov.uk.

How to apply

• Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).
• Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
• Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

1. Tell us about a time you worked directly with a child or family in their home. What approach did you take to build trust and assess their needs?
2. Talk about a time you had to manage risk in a complex family situation. How did you balance support with safeguarding responsibilities?
3. Tell us about a time you worked with professionals from other services (e.g. schools, health, social care). How did you ensure a coordinated and effective response?
4. How do you prioritise your caseload and manage competing demands?

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 8 September 2025

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).