SCVO is
inviting senior level professionals from Voluntary and Community Sector
organisations who provide services to children, young people and families in
Sandwell to take on Sector representative roles on behalf of other providers.
The Voluntary
and Community Sector (VCS) in Sandwell has a long history of providing
preventative support to those most in need and often “plug the gap” where
statutory provision is either failing or does not exist. Its cultural
sensitivity and ethnic reach, its street-level knowledge, and the effectiveness
of its service delivery are all founded upon the ‘community ownership’ inherent
in voluntary organisations. Relationships formed over time with local residents
have helped to build high levels of regard and trust between organisations and
the local community.
What is the
Family Help Board?
Families
Together is Sandwell’s vision, developing integrated services from
conception to 19 or 25 for young people with SEND, to transform the way we help
families in their communities at the earliest opportunity. With bespoke,
community driven multi-agency services, we want to empower families, enabling
them to improve their own lives.
The purpose of
the Family Help Board is to design and develop of a Family Help system across
Sandwell that fulfils our shared vision; and reflects relevant statutory
guidance (Working together 2023) and national policy (Stable Homes Built on
Love).
The Board
embeds a strong culture of leadership and accountability across the children’s
workforce, with the required direction and oversight set by the Sandwell’s
Safeguarding Children’s Partnership.
The Board also
ensures the delivery of a successful Family Hubs Programme for the duration of
the government funded preprogramme, recognising that some work will need with
sit within Early Years
The
Role of VCS Representatives on Family Help Board
The main role
of a VCS representative will broadly be:-
- to act as a conduit between the Family Help Board
and the VCS
- to feed into the development of the Family Help
Programme
- to pass information to the VCS eg changes in Family
Help, opportunities for wider involvement
- to consult the VCS in respect of the Family Help
Programme
- to feed VCS issues into the Family Help Board
- To prepare for and attend Family Help Board
meetings every 6 weeks (2 hours in duration)
- To attend the VCS Children and Young People Forum
every 8 weeks (1.5 hours in duration) to gather information from and feed
back to the voluntary and community sector.
Time
Commitment
VCS Family Help
Board representatives will be engaged for an initial period until the end of
March 2026. The time commitment is estimated as approximately 5-6 hours per
month. We are seeking two individuals, ideally from different VCS
organisations.
Support
Offered to Representatives
Backfill
funding can be claimed to pay for time spent in this VCS rep role at a rate of
£50 per hour, payable per quarter in arrears.
SCVO will
provide arms-length support for Representatives.
What Next?
If you would
like to apply for this please click here
Deadline for
Applications is Tuesday 26th August 2025.