Life Coach

Family is at the heart of our work in Hertfordshire and that includes supporting our children and young people in our care to reunite with their families, where this would be safe and in their best interests. We have an exciting position for the role of Life Coach within our Building Bridges Team, part of the Children Looked After (CLA) Service. This team was newly created in October 2022 to extend our successful Family Safeguarding model into our Children Looked After Service. This extension of the Family Safeguarding model to children in care sets out to empower families, and their extended networks, by having parental mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse specialists and Life Coaches in one team, working alongside social workers to support positive change that can lead to the reunification of children in care with their families. About the role You will work directly with parents of children in care to achieve agreed goals through coaching, parenting intervention and applying relationship-based practice. Part of the role will require you to visit families at their homes on a weekly basis to develop and progress goals that improve outcomes for children and families. Offering practical support to apply for housing, budget, apply for benefits and develop routines and rhythms. As part of your training in the role, you will be required to attend ARC and NVR training which you will apply when supporting parents to develop their parenting confidence. No formal qualifications are required for the role, you will receive Motivational Interviewing training, NVR training and ARC training.

• Full UK driving licence and regular access to a vehicle
• Experience of working with Children and Families
• Ability to undertake direct work with families whose children are currently looked after, tailoring interventions to suit their needs.
• Ability to facilitate sessions between children and their parents that increase connection opportunities and build upon their relationship.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with professionals and partner agencies to ensure that children and families receive the best possible service at the right time.
This role would be ideal for those already in an alternatively qualified role such as a Childrens Practitioner or Family Practitioner to expand their breadth of knowledge. This role would also suit those in a Children's Information and Advice Officer who want to progress further in this field. We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role., This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Driving required You'll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations. English Fluency The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required).