Senior Family Led Decision Making Facilitator

As part of our journey to be Anti-Racist, at Hackney we want our workforce to represent the community we serve, that’s why we encourage applications from Black and Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds. 

Proud to work in Hackney – Our aspiration is for every child to grow up in a child-friendly borough and have the best start in life 

Are you passionate about supporting families to come together to make safe, sustainable plans for children? Do you believe in systemic, trauma-informed, and anti-racist practice that recognises the strengths within families and communities?

We are looking for an experienced and skilled Senior Family Led Decision Making Facilitator to join our service and help lead high-quality Family Led Decision Meetings for families supported by Children and Families Services.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting children to remain safely within their family and community networks wherever possible. You will work alongside children, parents, carers, and professionals to facilitate meaningful family-led planning in accessible venues across the borough, particularly in situations where there are concerns about significant harm, pre-proceedings, or potential care proceedings.

As a senior facilitator within the service, you will line manage Family Led Decision Making Facilitators and a Parental Advocacy Officer, while also holding a small caseload and contributing to the operational oversight and ongoing development of the service.

About the role

You will:

• Facilitate high-quality Family Led Decision Meetings that are child-centred, strengths-based, and culturally responsive.
• Support families to identify and build on their networks, including wider family, friends, faith, and community connections.
• Work within a Systemic, Trauma-Informed and Anti-Racist (STAR) framework.
• Provide supervision, support, and development to facilitators within the team.
• Contribute to quality assurance, service improvement, and reflective learning.
• Work collaboratively with social workers and partner agencies to improve outcomes for children.
• Help shape and coordinate culturally specific Family Led Decision Meeting offers delivered through community and voluntary sector organisations.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a relevant qualification in social work, therapy, youth work or a related field, with evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Has significant post-qualifying experience of working directly with children and families in complex contexts.
• Is skilled in managing risk, conflict, and emotionally challenging situations with confidence and sensitivity.
• Demonstrates strong leadership, reflective practice, and relationship-building skills.
• Has a strong understanding of systemic, trauma-informed, and anti-racist practice.
• Is passionate about amplifying children’s voices and empowering families to lead decision-making.
• Can work effectively across professional networks and challenge practice where required to promote positive outcomes for children.
• Can confidently analyse complex information, exercise sound judgement, and communicate effectively with families and professional networks.
• Has experience in supervision, mentoring, or supporting the development of others.

Additional information

• This role requires flexibility, including evening work
• Enhanced DBS required

Candidates must have a degree-level education, including a certified and current certification in Social Work, Therapy, Youth work or equivalent, and demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development. If you are keen to deliver, support and develop exceptional practice in a supportive and creative environment then we want to hear from you. Dynamic, innovative, committed and passionate, you’ll bring a comprehensive knowledge and skill-base in your work to the challenge of working with vulnerable children and families.

Our service seeks to actively contribute to organisational learning through recognising, promoting and supporting best practice and service development where required, retaining a clear focus upon positive good outcomes for children and families across the borough. Hackney is proud of its organisational learning culture and strives to find innovative ways of engaging and facilitating change with young people and their families.

Over recent years we have become renowned for innovation. From Reclaim Social Work, to Contextual Safeguarding, Safe and Together and Anti-Racist Practice, we have challenged norms and carved new paths. We value systemic, trauma informed and anti-racist leadership and encourage devolved decision-making at all levels – with senior managers working alongside front-line staff. Our teams are given excellent development opportunities and we are proud to be the first local authority to provide post-graduate qualifications in systemic practice.

Our refreshed Children and Families Service Improvement Action Plan includes 5 ambitious future focused priorities for our service:

• Proud to be Systemic, Trauma Informed and Anti-Racist (STAR)
• Proud to LIsten to Children and Families
• Proud to Work with Partner Agencies
• Proud to Work Together to Keep Children Safe

Proud to Support Our Workforce to Flourish

Hackney is one of London’s most vibrant and diverse boroughs. It’s one of the most sought after areas to live in London with good schools, parks and local amenities, as well as great transport links and vibrant and diverse communities.

We offer a great place to work with a working environment which is stimulating, creative, fast moving and supportive. Staff can access a range of benefits

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency-based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 2 June 2026 (22:59)

Assessment / Interviews: W/c 15 June 2026

Our vision is that Hackney is a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available hackneyworksjobs@hackney.gov.uk