At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable children and families through evidence-based interventions and collaborative approaches.
- Company: Join a dedicated team making a real difference in the community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, flexible working, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Opportunities for career progression and access to various employee perks.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on children's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Level 4 qualification in relevant field and experience with children and families.
The predicted salary is between 32061 - 36363 £ per year.
About The Role
We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Family Support Worker to join our team, working directly with vulnerable children, young people, and their families across a range of settings, including homes, schools, colleges, and community environments. This is a rewarding opportunity to deliver evidence-based, therapeutic interventions that support positive outcomes for children and young people, including those with special educational needs, physical disabilities, and life-limiting conditions.
Working as part of the Families First Programme, you will play a key role in supporting whole-family approaches, collaborating closely with social workers and partner agencies to assess needs, coordinate support, and implement effective plans. As a Family Help Lead Practitioner, you will have responsibility for writing Family Help Assessments, leading Family Help review meetings, delivering interventions as part of the Family Help plan and ensuring that families receive timely, joined-up support that promotes resilience, stability, and long-term wellbeing.
This is a dynamic and rewarding role supporting vulnerable children, young people and families through direct, relationship-based and restorative practice. You will work 1:1 using a range of evidence-based approaches to assess needs, build resilience and improve outcomes. Managing a complex caseload, you will complete Family Help Assessments (including Section 17), develop SMART plans, and lead Family Help review meetings at Targeted Early Help or where appropriate Child in Need level.
You will play a key role in coordinating multi-agency support, making referrals in line with local thresholds, and working closely with partners to ensure effective interventions. This includes safeguarding responsibilities, completing specialist assessments (e.g. Young Carers), and advocating for children and families to ensure their voices are heard. You will also deliver parenting programmes, engage family networks, and creatively support children and young people, including those with additional needs to access education, positive activities and appropriate services.
The role requires strong organisational skills, communication skills, professional judgement and a commitment to high-quality recording and data management. You will contribute to multi-agency meetings, provide written and verbal reports, and maintain accurate, timely records. With opportunities to develop specialist expertise, the post also includes participation in supervision, training, and, where required, court processes, making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and families across the community.
Qualifications
- You hold a Level 4 qualification (or above) in a relevant field such as health, education, child development, youth work or social care, with a strong commitment to continued professional development.
- You have experience working with children, young people and families, including lone working, and a sound understanding of the challenges they face within social care and Early Help frameworks.
- You bring proven experience of managing complex caseloads, acting as a lead worker, and coordinating multi-agency support to achieve positive outcomes.
- You are confident in using evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as motivational interviewing and solution-focused practice, and ideally have experience delivering parenting programmes (e.g. Triple P or Solihull).
- You are skilled at building strong, trusting relationships, ensuring the voice of the child is heard, and advocating effectively on behalf of families.
- You have the ability to complete high-quality assessments, reports and plans, and can confidently chair multi-agency meetings.
- You demonstrate excellent communication, organisational and IT skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads and work both independently and collaboratively.
- You understand safeguarding responsibilities and can identify, assess and respond appropriately to risk, including exploitation and complex needs.
- You are confident in challenging partners and providers constructively to ensure high standards of support.
- You are highly motivated, adaptable and resilient, with a flexible approach to working hours and environments, including travel across the county and working in family homes.
- You have access to your own transport and are prepared to work evenings and weekends where required.
Benefits
- Salary range of £32,061 - £36,363 per annum (£19,497 to £22,112 per annum pro rata).
- Professional development: protected time and budget to develop yourself and your career.
- Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Career progression: clear pathways to progress.
- Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum during the request period.
- Flexible working: including the potential for job-sharing, part-time hours and agile working.
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling.
- Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements).
- Pick your perks - our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.
Reasonable Adjustments
Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the "Disability Confident" scheme. Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant. Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.
Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations
We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre-employment checks.
