Grade 9- £45,834-£49,827pa - 2 year fixed contract 

About Us

Children’s Social Care in Havering is a fast improving service, innovating within the sector and has a clear vision on what are and how we achieve positive outcomes for children, young people and families. Following our recent OFSTED inspection children services achieved a Good rating.

We are on an upward journey to deliver outstanding support to people who need our services and our staff. We are achieving this in a range of ways;

• Delivery of accredited systemic practice across the whole workforce within the Social Care department. This is delivered in partnership with the Institute of Family Therapy.
• Two DfE funded Innovation Programmes focused on trying new ideas and changing how we work.
• ‘Obsessions’ where we focus on particular areas to strengthen them with our current focus on Assessments.
• Close working with partners to develop a DfE funded Teaching Partnership across East London.
• Strong partnerships across the UK, developing new tools and exchanging ideas.
• A Social Care Academy which defines the support and offer to all social care staff.
• A staff forum allowing the workforce across all of Children’s Services the chance to engage with their areas and senior management.

For more information, to see how our services are setup and to see our vision, please visit www.socialworkhavering.com.

Our offices are centrally located in Romford Town centre, with excellent transport connections. We are only 20 minutes from London Liverpool Street Station. Romford is in the hub of the Havering and our centralised bus system enables easy transports links across the entire borough. We offer onsite subsidised car parking, easily accessible within the M25, A12, A406 and A127. 

About the Job

Homeless Families Coordinator- 2 Year Fixed term Contract

• To be the lead officer for the Council and the Safeguarding Partnership with responsibility for ensuring that there is a clear understanding of the scale and nature of the issues in relation to Homeless Families, including those with No Recourse to Public Funds, in Havering.
• Support the undertaking of initial needs assessments, in conjunction with Housing Services, when families with children under 18 present as homeless at the Front Door. Ensure that a risk assessment is undertaken and steps are taken to ensure a family is in need before acceptance by Children’s Services.
• Coordinate and collate the services available to support families at risk of homelessness, including third sector organisations, to embed a borough wide response to support families at risk of homelessness.
• Create, build and develop strategic and operational processes for the early identification of families at risk of homelessness. Ensure that the London Borough of Havering has a coordinated response to families at risk of homelessness, thus significantly reducing the number of families in need of emergency and/or temporary accommodation.
• To have a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, policy and procedures on homelessness and to provide innovative advice, solutions and peer to peer consultations when supporting complex cases.
• To provide support to practitioners working with families, and young people, who have no recourse to public funds. To maintain an up to date knowledge of legislation and guidance regarding access to public funds and provide advice accordingly.
• To lead the promotion of better understanding of the nature of issues causing homelessness and the potential longer term impact for children in these families.
• To maintain up to date knowledge of best practice/national research to inform local responses to families at risk of homelessness, reporting back to the Senior Management Team, Assistant Director and Director of Children’s Services.
• To provide specialist advice and support across Children’s Services, Housing Services and partner agencies on an appropriate inter-agency response to families at risk of homelessness.
• To act as the strategic and operational link between Children’s Social Care and Housing, acting as a champion for better outcomes for children and families.
• To oversee spend specific to homeless families within the Children’s Social Care Section 17 budget to ensure efficiencies are achieved where possible and unnecessary spend is avoided.
• Participate in regional, local and national networks and groups to ensure that Havering Children’s Services and Housing Services are able to provide high quality housing advice and homelessness prevention services.
• To take responsibility for on-going professional development of the children’s services workforce in this area, in liaison with the Havering Social Care Academy.
• To contribute towards (and facilitate, where appropriate) the Housing Services Workforce Development Strategy.
• To link with Leaving Care Services and Adult Social Care with regards to care experienced young adults at high risk of homelessness and co-ordinate a multi-agency response to support.

About You

• Substantial post-qualification experience as a social worker (minimum three years), including child protection work.
• Experience of working with children and families including complex assessments and statutory work.
• Ability to offer specialist advice and guidance on homelessness to the Children’s Services workforce. Knowledge and expertise of the factors that increase risk of homelessness, and signs of vulnerability.
• Good and current knowledge of the national and local developments regarding housing, homelessness and no recourse to public funds, and the likely impact of these.

• The closing date for this role is 30th November 2020.  However, if the interest in this role is high, we may look to close this earlier.

  You will be notified of the outcome of your application and successful candidates will be invited to an interview shortly after.

  Havering children’s social care virtual recruitment evening

  Thinking about working for Havering Children’s Services, but want to find out more information before making your decision? Why not come along to our virtual recruitment evening on Thursday 24th November 6 pm – 8 pm. Book your place here.

Additional Information

The London Borough of Havering is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates who declare that they have a disability in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and meet the essential criteria as specified in the Job Profile will be guaranteed an interview.

Priority consideration on all advertised roles will be given to London Borough of Havering Redeployees.

The London Borough of Havering is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Please be aware that a Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) check will be required for any position with access to these groups under the provision of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.