Sessional Contact Supervisor in London

Family contact centre £16.13 ph upon passing probation this will rise to £16.83 plus holiday pay. Zero hour contract (Candidate expected to provide up to 20 hours per week across weekdays and Saturday).

JOIN US AND HELP BUILD A FAIRER NEWHAM

We’re a vibrant, dynamic, culturally rich London Borough with a young population and limitless potential. We’re a challenging yet rewarding place to work with young people and we are steadfastly committed to our workforce being representative of the communities that we serve. We are taking coordinated, meaningful and focused action to develop an inclusive culture because we believe this is at the heart of enabling diversity in all respects, including diversity of thought. We are taking positive actions to challenge all forms of discrimination and injustice to help make Newham a fairer and more equitable place for care leavers to live, learn and thrive; and this year in our Borough we have made having left care a protected characteristic.

We’re building a fairer Newham through investment, co-production and by continuously developing our 'Circles of Support' practice model; centring on systemic and restorative practice and a specialist support offer for our practitioners. Ofsted described Newham as having a positive culture of learning and development and we always try to develop talent in-house. Our Leaving Care service was at the centre of a focused visit from Ofsted earlier this year.

ABOUT YOU – Applicants need direct experience working with Children and families to be shortlisted.

We are seeking Contact Supervisors to oversee and support contact sessions for children and families involved in proceedings. The ideal candidate will possess strong safeguarding knowledge, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage sensitive situations with empathy and professionalism. You will be responsible for supervising and facilitating contact between children and their families, ensuring that sessions are safe, positive, and in line with legal and welfare guidelines. The role requires a strong understanding of child protection procedures, the ability to manage challenging behaviours, and a commitment to promoting the well-being of children. The ideal candidate will be adaptable, proactive, and able to maintain clear and accurate records while working collaboratively with social workers, families, and legal professionals to support the best outcomes for children and families in proceedings. Candidate must be able to offer up to 20 hours a week and be available to work across Monday – Saturday 10 - 6pm.

Benefits of joining us include:

• Competitive rate of pay
• Holiday pay and option to join the local authority pension scheme
• Training, supervision and support

Day to Day Responsibilities:

• Observe and facilitate contacts between children and families who are in proceedings and or the care of the local authority.
• Managing risk and intervening as necessary to safeguard children.
• Supervise contacts within the centre, via video links and or in the community.
• Write contact reports to an agreed format making accurate observations and recordings of each session.
• Child Protection and Safeguarding Children and working as part of a team.

Experience:

• Proven experience working with children and families, particularly in child protection or family support services.
• Strong understanding of child protection policies.
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment, collaborating with social workers, Guardians and other agencies.
• Experience working with children and families, ideally gained as a Child Contact Supervisor.
• Knowledge and experience of child development and parenting is essential.

Skills:

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to engage effectively with children, families, and professionals.
• Strong observational skills to assess and report on contact sessions objectively and accurately.
• High level of empathy and emotional intelligence to manage sensitive situations with professionalism and care.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and handle challenging behaviours constructively.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for maintaining accurate records and managing case files.
• Understanding of safeguarding practices, confidentiality, and professional boundaries in a child protection context.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to handle conflicts or difficult situations effectively.
• A non-judgmental, child-centered approach focused on promoting positive outcomes for children and families.
• Good communication and report writing skills to accurately document observations and provide clear, concise reports.

Qualifications and Additional Requirements:

• NVQ Level 2 or above in a relevant qualification related to working with children and families.
• Relevant qualifications in social work, child care, or a related field are desirable.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable groups.
• All applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS and an annual Childcare Disqualification Disclosure.

We would draw your attention to the following statement: "Because of the nature of the work for which you are applying, this post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974, by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986. Applications are, therefore, not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are 'spent' under the provisions of the Act".

Job Type: Zero hour contract

Schedule: Flexitime Monday to Friday Weekend availability

TO APPLY

To apply please submit your CV and a supporting statement stating how you meet the criteria for the role, through our online recruitment portal. Shortlisting decisions will be based on candidates' relevant experience and on candidates' suitability for the role in line with the person specification, as described in their supporting statement and CV. Closing date: 14/06/2026 at 23:59. Interviews: ASAP.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process or want to discuss joining Newham Children’s Services with one of our managers, please contact our Recruitment Team.

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role. We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.