At a Glance
- Tasks: Build trusting relationships with families to provide essential support and guidance.
- Company: Join Action for Children, a dedicated team making a real difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy over 7 weeks paid leave, flexible family packages, and discounts at 15,000 retailers.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to creating inclusive environments.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on children's wellbeing and help families thrive.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and experience in multi-agency collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 29900 - 29900 £ per year.
Salary: Up to £29,900 per annum
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Contract/Hours: Permanent / Full Time – 37 hours per week
Closing date for applications is midnight of Sunday 26th July
Benefits:
- Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and the option to buy or sell leave
- Excellent training and the opportunity to undertake professional training for some roles
- Flexible maternity, paternity and adoption packages
- Up to 5% employer contribution and life assurance cover
- Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers
At Action for Children, we offer more than just a job. Join us and you’ll be part of a team dedicated to giving children safe and happy childhoods. See how your skills can make a real difference, helping solve the problems children and young people face every day.
A bit about the role
In the role of Family Partner, the focus is on building trusting relationships with children, young people, and their families to identify the support they need and how to access it effectively. This position adopts a whole-family approach, which includes:
- Conducting holistic assessments and offering practical guidance
- Assisting families in overcoming barriers to services
- Strengthening parenting confidence and advocating for children's voices
- Contributing to coordinated support across schools, health partners, and city programmes
A crucial aspect of this role is helping families access services, especially when they encounter barriers or feel uncertain about where to turn. This includes offering parenting support through practical advice and encouragement, thereby strengthening parents' confidence in their abilities. Additionally, acting as an advocate for babies, children, and young people ensures their voices and needs are integral to planning and decision-making.
Safeguarding is central to this practice, ensuring every child's wellbeing is prioritised while maintaining clear and accurate records to support ongoing progress.
About the Service
Children and Families Newcastle is a citywide network designed to bring support closer to the communities that need it. Working within the North Locality, you’ll be part of a team committed to early help, prevention, and building strong foundations for children and families. The service focuses on holistic, whole‑family support, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive, every parent feels supported, and every family can access the tools they need to move forward.
You’ll contribute to integrated programmes such as the Supporting Families Programme and help uphold standards like UNICEF Baby Friendly accreditation, ensuring families receive consistent, high‑quality support from pregnancy through to young adulthood.
Some key responsibilities of a Family Partner are:
- Carrying out whole-family assessments and Early Help plans to understand each family's strengths, needs, and priorities
- Facilitating group sessions that empower parents and carers to build confidence, skills, and supportive connections
- Providing timely support by responding to enquiries and reviewing family needs to ensure effective assistance
- Integrated working and contributing to wider programmes and initiatives, supporting consistent, joined‑up family services
- Providing practical parenting support that strengthens parents’ confidence and skills and act as a strong advocate for babies, children, and young people, ensuring their voices and needs are central to planning and decision‑making
Let’s talk about you
- Relationship building — Ability to build trust with children and families
- Multi‑agency experience — Confident working across agencies
- Strong communication — Clear written and verbal communication skills
- Group facilitation — Ability to deliver group programmes
- Advocacy — Confident advocating for children and young people
- Safeguarding knowledge — Solid understanding of safeguarding procedures
- Organisation — Able to manage caseloads and maintain accurate records
- Collaboration — Strong partnership working with schools and health teams
- Solution‑focused — Creative, proactive approach to supporting families
Why Action for Children?
Every child should have a loving home, food, warmth, the chance to grow and learn - the support to cope with life’s challenges. But too many children don’t. By bringing your passion and unique skills and experience, you’ll help us change that where it really matters. We've been driven by love to take action for children for over 150 years, giving them the protection and practical help they need. A lot’s changed since 1869. But what children really need, hasn’t. So as long as children need us, we’ll be here. Will you join us?
Contact: Please submit an application via our careers page. If you have any further questions, you can contact Laura McCarthy at recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13354
Diversity, equality and inclusion
We work hard to create an inclusive environment. One where individuality is celebrated and where everyone feels valued and supported. Because when we come together, with skills like yours, we’re capable of amazing things.
We actively encourage applications from people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with a disability, as these groups are under-represented within Action for Children.
Want to get to know Action for Children better?
Family Partner employer: Action for Children
Action for Children is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment in Wirral. With flexible part-time hours, employees benefit from a strong emphasis on professional development and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and young people. Our collaborative culture encourages innovation and personal growth, making it a rewarding place to work for those passionate about emotional wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Partner
✨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 Partner
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.
