At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable children and families through home visits and community engagement.
- Company: Join Action for Children, a passionate team dedicated to making a difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 29 days annual leave, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace, encouraging applications from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives and help families thrive.
- Qualifications: Diploma in Early Years or similar, with experience in child and family support.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 30000 £ per year.
Location: Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Contract/Hours: Permanent, Part Time (working 30 hours a week).
29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays pro rata, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave.
Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.
Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages.
Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover.
Staff discounts and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.
Vulnerable children in the UK need your help. Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you will be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK. Last year, we helped more than 687,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.
About the role: Waterside Sure Start is funded by the Department of Education, delivering high-quality early years support to children aged 0–4 and their families across six local catchment areas. Our work focuses on early learning, child health, and positive family relationships.
How you will help to create brighter futures:
- Undertaking a range of home visits including promotional visits, social, emotional and practical parenting support and/or developing play skills with children aged under 4 years and their parents/carers.
- Facilitating parenting support programmes and signposting families to other relevant services ensuring good links with local statutory and voluntary services.
- Engaging with the community and families with children from pre-birth up to the age of 4 in the catchment area.
- Assessing families’ needs and creating service plans in partnership with them to achieve their desired outcomes.
- Being responsible for the planning, development and delivery of individual and group-based services, which support families in providing their children with the best start in life.
Let's talk about you:
- Diploma Level 2 in Early Years or a similar subject.
- Experience of working with children and families and identifying their needs.
- Excellent communication skills to be able to engage and work with children, young people and their families.
- An awareness and an ability to identify and act upon safeguarding concerns with clients and to follow agreed reporting procedures.
- Experience of group work programmes.
- Access to a car.
- The job requires the ability to travel according to the needs of the job, with reasonable adjustments, if required, according to the Equality Act.
- Registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
Are you a team player with strong communication skills, experience working with families, and solid knowledge of child protection? Are you committed to high-quality practice, collaborative working, and achieving positive outcomes for children under four and their families? Then we look forward to hearing from you.
Interviews will be held week commencing 11th May 2026.
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Diversity, equality and inclusion: At Action for Children, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children. Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.
If you are excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we would love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.
Locations
Family Support Worker in Derry, Londonderry employer: Action for Children
Action for Children is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With opportunities to develop meaningful relationships within the community and contribute to impactful fundraising initiatives, employees can thrive in a flexible remote environment while making a real difference in the lives of children across London and the South East.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Worker in Derry, Londonderry
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Action for Children.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Action for Children!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Action for Children, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Action for Children or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Family Support Worker in Derry, Londonderry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Action for Children:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Action for Children! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Action for Children
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
