At a Glance
- Tasks: Connect families with essential services and support their needs in the community.
- Company: Derby City Council, dedicated to supporting families and promoting inclusivity.
- Benefits: Flexible work-life balance, 27 days annual leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in families' lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Passion for community support and ability to engage with diverse families.
Job reference: 000012244
Application closing date: 22 June 2026
Location: Derby
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Fixed Term, 3 years
Salary: F - £30,024 - £32,597
Are you passionate about connecting families with the support they need to thrive? Derby City Council are excited to recruit 2 Family Hub Navigator roles within our Best Start Family Hubs Team. Best Start Family Hubs provide a universal ‘front door’ to families, acting as a one‑stop shop for information, advice, and services across social care, education, and health. At the heart of this is the Healthy Babies offer and we need dynamic, proactive Navigators to make it work.
What you will be doing:
- Supporting families to access services through signposting, personal connections and removing barriers to engagement.
- Facilitating Parent Carer Panels to ensure families influence service design and delivery.
- Engaging families in key programmes including infant feeding, perinatal mental health, and peer support.
- Collaborating with local agencies, GPs, libraries, schools, and other community venues to support outreach and engagement.
- Helping to identify and map local community assets, support networks and gaps in provision.
- Working with professionals and stakeholders across the city to ensure joined‑up service delivery.
- Collecting data and evidence to demonstrate impact and inform service improvement.
About you:
As a Family Hub Navigator, you’ll be the vital link between services and families helping parents, carers, and young people access the support they need, where and when they need it. This role requires enhanced DBS clearance and the ability to travel across Derby.
What we offer:
- Flexible work/life balance scheme (depending on your role)
- Modern office environment (depending on your job location)
- Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
- 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service), plus bank holidays (depending on contract)
- Local Government Pension Scheme (depending on contract)
- Team Derby Rewards – retail and leisure discounts
- Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
- Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
- Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Calendar and Support
- Access to our Equality Employee Networks – LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network and Neurodiversity Network
- Support for colleagues who are carers
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. We recruit for diversity and value difference. As many of our roles can now be home‑based, we are able to offer more opportunities for people who need this facility. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you are a disabled person, you have the choice to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme so long as you demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements for the job. We feel it is essential that we recruit a talented workforce that is as diverse as the community we work for. Please let us know of any individual requirements or reasonable adjustments you may have during the application, interview, or onboarding process and we’ll do all we can to help. We strongly believe in social understanding of disability and for us it’s all about removing barriers to equality.
Family Hub Navigators – 2 posts employer: Derby City Council
Derby City Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its Family Hub Navigators. With a strong emphasis on professional development, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to diversity, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact in the community. The council's focus on employee wellbeing, coupled with generous leave entitlements and a robust pension scheme, makes it an attractive place for those seeking a rewarding career in public service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Hub Navigators – 2 posts
✨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 Derby 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 Derby 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 Derby 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 Derby 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 Hub Navigators – 2 posts
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 Derby City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Derby 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 Derby 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.
