Family Intervention Worker

Family Intervention Workers are part of the Children with Disabilities Team. Family Intervention Workers visit the family and use information from the Early Help Assessment (EHA) to complete a Children With Disabilities Early Support Record and Children With Disabilities Early Support Plan to provide the support and services which have been identified as being required to meet outcomes. This could include practical assistance in the home, parenting support and guidance, assistance in obtaining recreational and educational facilities at home and outside the home, charity applications for access to activities and supporting young people to access activities.

Front Door Family Practitioner

Family Front Door Practitioners are part of Children Social Care’s Front Door based at Avon and Somerset Police Centre working alongside social workers within the team. Family Front Door Practitioners triage all the Early Help Assessments submitted by professionals who work directly with children and families where they are requesting support from the Family Intervention Service (FIS). Family Front Door Practitioners will review the EHA’s and speak to parents and children where appropriate alongside the author of the EHA to understand the current concerns and difficulties being experienced, and identify if support can be implemented by FIS. Family Front Door Practitioners will give clear advice and suggest other support available if there is not a clear role for FIS.

Family Intervention Service (FIS) workers

The Family Intervention Service (FIS) workers support children and young people aged 0 to 18 years and their families with complex needs. They use a bespoke intervention package to prevent families needing a statutory social care service or when stepping down from children’s social care. They do a range of working for example support reducing substance misuse, crime and anti-social behaviour, improve school attendance aspirations and outcomes, reducing and eliminating abusive episodes, missing children, provide mediation with young people and their families, support young carers and foster carers.

Social Worker

Social workers support individuals and their families through difficult times and help to find solutions to their problems. They assess people’s needs, strengths and wishes, working with individuals and families directly to help them make changes and solve problems, organising support, making recommendations or referrals to other services and agencies, and keeping detailed records. This is done by working with parents, the wider family network and other professionals in a strengths-based way to support change for the children or reduce the impact the disability, condition or illness has on daily life.

They will have a special interest in Children’s Safeguarding Assessment, Child Looked After & Leaving Care, Children with Disabilities, Transitions, Adults with Learning Disabilities, Adults Mental Health, Substance Abuse or Adults Safeguarding Assessment.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists (OTs) help children develop everyday skills, such as feeding themselves, getting dressed and playing. In particular by changes to the child’s environment by adaptations or specialist equipment. They are supported by Occupational Therapy Assistants.