At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families by coordinating early childhood services and building nurturing relationships.
- Company: Join Brightpoint, a mission-driven leader in human services for over 140 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous PTO, health insurance, and student loan forgiveness.
- Other info: Flexible hours with leadership development opportunities and mentorship available.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields and bilingual in English and Spanish required.
The predicted salary is between 28.4 - 28.4 £ per hour.
Brightpoint invites you to join our team of mission-driven staff who share a common vision: an equitable world where all children and families thrive in strong communities. As a leader in the human services sector for 140 years, we aim to advance the well-being of children by investing in families and strengthening communities through data-informed, collaborative, and preventative solutions.
The Family Support Specialist serves as the first point of contact for families who apply for center-based Early Childhood services at Brightpoint. Responsibilities include participant eligibility, identifying the needs of children and families, coordinating enrollment and tracking participation to maximize the child and family’s well-being. The Specialist recruits families, obtains necessary documentation, coordinates placement of eligible children, and establishes trusting, nurturing relationships with program participants.
Candidate Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Family and Consumer Science, Family Studies or Counseling required.
- Gateways Level 5 Family Specialist Credential or equivalent Family Development Credential required.
- Minimum of one (1) year of experience working with culturally diverse families preferred.
- Knowledge and understanding of normal child growth/development and parent-child relationships preferred.
- Valid driver’s license, insurance, and a reliable vehicle required.
- Ability to communicate in both English and Spanish required.
Job Responsibilities
- Recruit families with children for enrollment in the program, engaging in scheduled recruitment outings on a regular basis, including evening and weekend recruitment events (in-person and/or virtual).
- Complete and obtain all essential documentation to validate the eligibility of all applying families and secure all essential documentation, including the selection criteria form.
- Coordinate the placement of eligible children in the center or home-based program with the assigned Supervisor, Manager and/or Director.
- Establish trusting, nurturing relationships with clients/participants.
- Participate with the multidisciplinary team to ensure that all support services are extended to families based on their needs.
- Monitor absenteeism/participation of children in alignment with the attendance protocol, contact parents and/or conduct team meetings to discern justification for absenteeism/participation and create participation plan, as appropriate.
- For Center Based Only: report absences of three days or more to Family Support Services Supervisor or assigned Site/Program Supervisor for further follow-up recommendations.
Job Details
- Compensation: Hourly: Range is between $24.04 – $28.40 per hour, offers are commensurate with experience and bilingual candidates may receive additional compensation.
- Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance, 3+ weeks paid time off in the first year including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day (PTO increases with tenure); 11 paid holidays, supplemental insurance options, 401(k) with match.
- Location: Classroom setting (1701 West 63rd Street).
- Schedule: Full-time, hourly; general business hours with some flexibility required for special projects and evening/weekend recruitment events.
- Student Loan Forgiveness: Brightpoint is an approved agency for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
Family Support Specialist - Bilingual employer: Children’s Home & Aid
Brightpoint is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where employees can thrive while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families. With a strong commitment to professional development, including leadership opportunities and mentorship, as well as comprehensive benefits such as generous paid time off and medical coverage, Brightpoint empowers its staff to grow both personally and professionally. Located in a vibrant community, the Family Support Specialist role offers the chance to engage directly with diverse families, ensuring that every day brings new opportunities to make a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Specialist - Bilingual
✨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 Children’s Home & Aid.
✨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 Children’s Home & Aid!
✨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 Children’s Home & Aid, 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 Children’s Home & Aid 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 Specialist - Bilingual
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 Children’s Home & Aid:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Children’s Home & Aid! 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 Children’s Home & Aid
✨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.
