Job Introduction
We have an exciting opportunity for a Family Group Conference (FGC) Coordinator to join our Family Group Conferencing Service, within the Edge of Care Service.
In this rewarding role, you will work alongside children, families and their wider support networks to coordinate and facilitate Family Group Conferences, enabling families to develop safe, realistic and sustainable plans for their children. As an independent and impartial practitioner, you will empower families to identify their own strengths and solutions, helping children remain safely within their family and community networks wherever possible.
You will work closely with social workers and partner agencies, providing advice, guidance and training on the Family Group Conference process, while promoting strengths-based, restorative and relational ways of working. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled practitioner who is passionate about achieving positive outcomes for children and families through family-led decision making.
The role requires excellent communication and organisational skills, the ability to engage and build relationships with a diverse range of people, and a commitment to safeguarding and child-centred practice. Some flexibility is required, including occasional work outside normal office hours to meet the needs of families.
The hours are 18.5 per week, working on a Wednesday, with other days to be agreed at interview.
Please note, there may be the requirement for weekend or evening working and travelling outside of Staffordshire.
Main Responsibility
You will:
- Coordinate, prepare, facilitate and reviewing Family Group Conferences for children and families which includes typing and distributing family plans and reviewing outcomes following conferences.
- Act as an independent and impartial facilitator, ensuring all family members and professionals can participate effectively in the Family Group Conference process.
- Engage children, parents, extended family members and wider support networks to develop safe, realistic and sustainable plans for children.
- Empower families to take the lead in decision-making and planning, promoting strengths-based and family-led solutions.
- Build positive working relationships with Children's Social Care, partner agencies and community organisations to support the successful delivery of Family Group Conferences.
- Promote high-quality planning, decision-making and practice that improves outcomes for children and young people.
- Ensure Family Group Conferences are delivered in line with service policies, practice standards and safeguarding requirements.
- Work independently co-ordinating conferences within agreed timescales.
- Ensure services are delivered in a way that is inclusive, culturally sensitive and responsive to the diverse needs of children and families.
The Ideal Candidate
You must have:
- NVQ Level 4 or equivalent qualification or evidence of being trained in the delivery of Family Group Conference by an accredited organisation.
- Experience of delivering direct work with children, their families and carers in a statutory or voluntary agency which provides services to vulnerable children and their families
- The ability to work within a complex system and find simple solutions and outcomes that deliver real change for our families,
- Passion and drive to support children to be safe and be able to remain within their family,
- Excellent communication and IT skills,
- The ability to work as a team and autonomously and be willing to travel to meet with family members.
- Ability to work creatively, restoratively, so that you get the best out of children and their families through using relational and coaching techniques,
An essential car user allowance is paid as you will require access to a car at all times.
Interviews will be held at Staffordshire Place 1 on w/c 10th August or 17th August 2026
For an informal chat about the role please contact Kirsten Booth, Edge of Care Manager at: kirsten.booth@staffordshire.gov.uk or call 07815 999 066
Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role. Please note: The minimum essential criteria in the ideal candidate section detailed above will be used if you are applying under one of our Interview Guarantee Schemes detailed below.
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council:
Our Values:
The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits:
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire
Our recruitment process:
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.
