Issue details

The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the establishment of a Children’s Resilience and Recovery Programme, which in turn has impacted on
resources, in particular, front line staff to work directly with children, young people and their families.

The current pandemic has simultaneously increased the strain on families and reduced school capacity to manage early help cases, in particular step-downs from social care.
This places a risk in the system for vulnerable children and young people, especially any not in an educational setting. These often end up in a re-referral into Social Care,
placing greater pressure on an already stretched front door. Therefore, providing extra Early Help Officers in the form of Family Lead Practitioners means that educational settings will be better supported. In effect, the officers can catch the step-downs and ensure support is provided in a timely and appropriate manner.

Due to the above, this ODR seeks to establish the following posts:
? 7 FTE Family Lead Practitioners (Grade 7) temporary for 12 months
? 1 FTE Technical Business Support (Grade 6) temporary for 12 months
The Family Lead Practitioners will be managed within the Early Intervention and Localities Service.