Hub Support Assistant

West Sussex County Council is a diverse organisation that provides services to more than 850,000 residents' every day. Through our Early Help Service, we will work with children, families, and young people to help ensure that every person is supported to achieve his or her potential. The foundations for mental health, emotional control, doing well in education and parenting ability are all set in place in the early years; the home surroundings, family life and parenting are all important factors in determining positive outcomes for children as they grow and develop.

For more information about Children's Services, please visit our Education, Children and Familiespage and our WSCC Health and Social Care section of our website.

The Opportunity

As a Hub Support Assistant, you'll play a key role in ensuring our full-time family hubs are safe, welcoming and accessible for families, children and young people. You'll work as part of a dedicated team within both our family hubs and local communities, providing information, advice and guidance around a range of issues to families, children and young people aged 0-25. A key aspect of the role will be providing practical support to families experiencing crisis, including organising food parcels.

Helping to provide a safe and welcoming space for young people through the Find It Out (FIO) offer is essential. You'll be able to speak confidently with young people, understand their needs and be able to help them access appropriate support, at a time that suits them, including after school hours.

Having a good understanding of what services are available in the local community for families, children and young people and being confident to signpost to these will be key. You'll help to maintain effective relationships with a range of partners, including the voluntary sector, to ensure the smooth running of services to meet the needs of our local communities.

You'll understand the importance of early years provision and the difference this makes to children and will assertively promote Free Entitlement funding to families to ensure they access this provision.

You will promote and raise awareness around key public health messages, such as smoking cessation, breast feeding and mental health by providing information, advice, and guidance, and you'll be developing posters and other promotional materials, including the use of social media, to improve health outcomes for families, children and young people.

Experience and Skills

Key Skills

• Good communication, customer service and interpersonal skills in order to interact effectively with the general public and act as a point of information / advice / guidance where appropriate.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to confidently work with children, young people and families e.g. dealing with complex queries and family issues, responding appropriately to challenging behaviour such as aggressive or distressed individuals.
• Ability to work as part of a team completing shared tasks in order to deliver a service to others.
• Ability to meet set deadlines and to understand when problems need to be referred upwards, e.g. in responding to complaints promptly for a quick accurate solution.
• Analytical and judgement skills in order to effectively assist with customer queries.
• Proficient IT skills, using Microsoft Office Suite, in order to be able to use the Service computerised databases, photocopiers, scanners and the internet.

Qualifications and/or experience:

• 4 GCSEs with A-C (9-4) passes including Maths and English, or equivalent qualification or experience demonstrating that level of numeracy and literacy.
• An IT qualification or equivalent experience demonstrating good working knowledge of IT systems / procedures.
• Experience of dealing with the public and providing excellent customer service, including providing specialist information, advice and guidance.
• Experience of team working.
• You will need to be able to travel independently around the county, including to areas that may not be easily accessible by public transport. Pool cars and pool bikes are available.
• Level 3 Information, Advice and Guidance qualification - Desirable
• Experience in the delivery of child or family support services in the statutory or non-statutory sector - Desirable

Rewards and Benefits

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. In addition to working within a great team and a brilliant opportunity you will receive:

For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CAFHE05102.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, 5 years referencing and a health check.