At a Glance
- Tasks: Support disabled children and their families, providing practical and emotional assistance.
- Company: Dynamic team focused on improving lives of disabled children in Bristol.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, full-time hours, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Join a supportive environment with a focus on meaningful outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of disabled children and their families.
- Qualifications: Experience working with disabled children and strong interpersonal skills.
The predicted salary is between 29064 - 31022 £ per year.
The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.
Job reference: VAC008621
Date posted: 28/07/2026
Application closing date: 16/08/2026
Location: B Bond - West Wing Smeaton Road Hotwells Bristol BS1 6XN
Salary: BG8: £29,064 - £31,022
Contractual hours: 37
Basis: Full time
Job category/type: Social Care
Family Support Worker: Disabled Children Service
Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week
Location: This is an office-based role based within Floor 7, B Bond, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN.
Do you have knowledge and experience of working with disabled children and young people and their families – together with a passion to improve the lives and outcomes of disabled children, young people and their families? If yes - we have an exciting opportunity for a full time Family Support Worker in the Disabled Children Service and Specialist Services.
The Disabled Children Service is a dynamic team that stays involved with a child through the breadth of social care intervention, holding the child's hand through their journey from various services.
Our family support workers work with disabled children, young people and their families who receive support services from our social work team, occupational therapy team or the Social Care Hub. Our family support workers provide help to support disabled children and young people lead an “ordinary life”, as much as possible. They offer practical help and emotional support to disabled children, young people and their families experiencing short or long-term difficulties.
You will provide support to empower families to address various challenges, reducing problems and risks. You will help parents, carers and disabled children and young people with a range of social and personal issues.
Our family support workers are trained to deliver specialist parenting courses which are personalised to support disabled children and young people's complex needs. By providing our most complex disabled children and young people child in need support, we support parents and carers in their role as primary carers and give them much needed breaks to assist them to look after themselves and their wider family.
Alongside a designated Social Worker working in the new Review and Re-assessment team, you will be responsible for visiting, assessing and reviewing disabled children and young people and their child in need plan. You will ensure statutory timescales for the completion of child in need assessments, visits and reviews are met and that the work completed with disabled children and families is meaningful, proportionate and effective.
As a lead professional, you will use your specialist knowledge and expertise of the wide range of challenges that affect disabled children and their families to support assessment, plan and review. You will work in partnership with the family and multi-agency network to improve outcomes for disabled children.
Practice frameworks and approaches: In order to support families there are a number of different approaches and methodologies which underpin our practice in Bristol:
- Signs of Safety is the framework we use to assess and respond to harm.
- Systemic Practice provides the theories to understand the complexity of an individual's experiences and the influence they have on their ability to make and sustain change.
- Relationship based Practice means strengthening relationships between people as well as strengthening social connections within communities.
- Contextual Safeguarding enables us to assess and respond to harm that affects children outside their families.
Team Vision: We want to create a consistent offer for disabled children, young people and families so that the intervention they receive is the best that can be offered. We want to ensure our interventions are supporting better outcomes for disabled children, young people and families whilst supporting them at the lowest level.
Family Support Worker: Disabled Children Service in Bristol employer: Bristol City Council
Bristol City Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. As a Trauma-Informed Recovery Navigator, you will benefit from flexible working hours and generous leave allowances, allowing you to balance your personal and professional life while making a meaningful impact in the community. Join us in a role that not only fosters collaboration with various services but also empowers you to contribute to the recovery journey of individuals facing complex challenges.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Worker: Disabled Children Service in Bristol
✨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 Bristol City Council.
✨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 Bristol City Council!
✨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 Bristol City Council, 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 Bristol City Council 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: Disabled Children Service in Bristol
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 Bristol City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Bristol City Council! 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 Bristol City Council
✨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.
