EXPERIENCE
When my children were young I enjoyed working with local playgroups. Quite a few years later, when my children were older and at school, I answered an advertisement in the local paper looking for volunteers to work with young families experiencing stress or other difficulties. All that was needed was a couple of hours a week.
In the autumn of 1989 I completed the Home-Start preparation course and soon I was visiting my first family, a mother with three young children with lots of energy! All she needed was an extra pair of hands and some space.
In 1990 a position came up in the scheme for which I applied, and in April I was offered the role of organiser.
What I do
I work as part of a team across Herefordshire. The job description states that organisers recruit, train and support volunteers, among other duties.
I visit potential volunteers in their homes, discussing their strengths and abilities to become Home-Start volunteers. All we ask is that they have parenting experience and an ability to listen and understand how families work.
I also visit families referred to Home-Start by health visitors, social workers, family, friends or even those who refer themselves. We discuss their needs and then introduce them to the best available volunteer.
The families are from all walks of life and need support for many different reasons. It could be postnatal depression, a multiple birth or an isolated parent in need of a friend. As long as they have an under-five in the family and a volunteer available, we will help.
It is 25 years since Home-Start kicked off in Herefordshire. We were the tenth scheme in the country; now there are more than 300 in the UK and worldwide.
Ambition
I love working with families and children. It's hard to know where to look for my future. I feel I am able to adapt to changes both within and outside of work. I enjoy a challenge and a variety of tasks. And I have a good listening ear.
OPTIONS
Tina Jeffries, director of the Red Space Company (www.redspace company.com)
Working with a team of family support volunteers takes good communication, negotiation and organisational skills which Barbara has enhanced through extra study in interpersonal skills. Her work also requires her to liaise with a range of people from other statutory and voluntary services in health, education and social care in key areas such as safeguarding children's welfare and sharing information.
The required Common Core of knowledge and skills of people working in the children's workforce now come under the following six headings:
- Effective communication
- Child and young people's development
- Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child
- Supporting transitions
- Multi-agency working
- Sharing information
Transition across voluntary, private or statutory sectors can be a challenge. It is, however, invaluable to have knowledge of practice in a range of sectors. Barbara could simply consider gaining experience in other sectors or increase her level of responsibility further.
Family support co-ordinator (local authority children's centre)
Families have been at the centre of Barbara's work. One of the services of a children's centre is family support provision in the form of home visiting and group activities. This work would be allied to her existing role, but give her a progression opportunity to co-ordinate and manage the work of a team of paid staff.
Barbara would need to demonstrate that she has in-depth experience of family support both in the home and in groups, along with professional maturity in multi-agency work and communication and managing a team.
Salary range £26,500 - £29,000 (local variations)
Portage - area co-ordinator
Portage is a home visiting provision, usually managed by health, education or social services in collaboration. A home visiting team supports and establishes activity for children's learning and development in the home where a child has severe or complex educational or health needs. Knowledge of current legislation relating to children is essential for the role, plus a requirement to plan, co-ordinate and report on the work of the home visiting team.
Barbara's experience of liaising with other professionals fits well with the requirement to ensure parents and carers are supported in safeguarding their children's welfare and development.
Salary range £16,500 - £18,000 (local variations)
Teaching assistant
If Barbara was to look for a completely different environment, she may consider working as a teaching assistant in a school. She would have some contact with parents, but would be working closely with the class teacher helping children with their learning and well-being.
The experience Barbara has had with her own children, playgroups and family group settings would be valuable and the study she has completed in extended schools provision would help with her understanding of current developments.
With additional training and qualifications she could move up to higher level teaching assistant or teacher.
Salary range £11,500 - £21,000 (depending on scale and training level).