Children and Families Practitioner

Salary: £25,500 per annum, pro rata

Location: Galashiels, Scottish Borders

Contract/Hours: Fixed Term until 31st August with possible extension due to service review / Part Time - 21 hours per week (flexible over 3 or more days and may include some evening and weekend work), We also have casual hours available

Closing date for application is midnight of 9th December and interviews are scheduled to take place on 15th and 17th December

Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you’ll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It’s the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children’s lives.

A bit about the role

The CHIMES Service in the Scottish Borders provides dedicated support across two key areas. We work closely with young carers aged 7 to 18, recognising the unique responsibilities they carry and ensuring they are valued, supported, and empowered. We also stand alongside families affected by alcohol and drug use, offering guidance to parents experiencing dependency, care to children impacted by these circumstances, and understanding to other family members who may feel the wider effects.

Our commitment is to walk with families through these challenges, providing a safe and supportive environment where resilience can grow and healthier futures can be built.

As a Children & Families Practitioner, you'll play a central role in this journey. You'll advocate for children and families, nurture strength and wellbeing, and help create lasting positive change. This position is both meaningful and rewarding, offering the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.

How you’ll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities for the role of a Children & Families Practitioner are;

• Providing a high quality service to children, young people and their families, based on an assessment of need and is outcomes driven.
• Delivering a complex and specialist interventions with children, young people or families on a 1:1 basis, group or community setting.
• Taking the lead in case and care planning involves assessing, reviewing, and managing risks associated with the child or young person.
• Actively participating in relevant multi-agency meetings and collaborative efforts to enhance the overall support provided to children, young people, and their families.

Let’s talk about you

• Working within a multi-agency social care, early years or health environment and applying safeguarding procedures.
• Experience of managing cases, in accordance with agreed procedures and completing assessments, planning and reviews to ensure positive outcomes.
• Ability to keep the child and or young people as the focus and ensure their feelings and wishes are represented in meetings and record keeping.
• Working knowledge of an outcome based approach to planning, delivering and reviewing services.

Good to know

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.

We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.