At a Glance
- Tasks: Support kinship families with tailored guidance and build strong community connections.
- Company: Leading national charity dedicated to kinship care and family support.
- Benefits: Meaningful work, professional development, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Be part of a small, dedicated team making a lasting impact in the community.
- Why this job: Join a pioneering programme in Scotland and help families thrive in loving environments.
- Qualifications: Experience in family support or casework, strong communication, and empathy.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
About Kinship
Kinship is the leading National kinship care charity, supporting relatives and friends who step up to raise children when their parents cannot. Through advice, practical support, research and campaigning, we work to ensure kinship families have the help they need to thrive. Together with our community, we drive positive change so that every child can grow up in a loving, stable family environment.
About the Opportunity
Join Kinship at an exciting milestone as we launch our first programme in Scotland. Working in partnership with Inspiring Scotland and local youth charity Y Sort It, this National Lottery‑funded pilot will strengthen support for kinship families in West Dunbartonshire through a coordinated, whole‑family approach. As part of a small and dedicated delivery team, you will help shape Kinship’s future in Scotland, contribute to evidence‑based learning, and make a lasting difference to kinship carers, children and young people in the local community.
The Role
As a Kinship Navigator, you will provide intensive, six‑month support to kinship carers through Kinship Connected, helping families build resilience, access services and strengthen support networks. Based at Y Sort It and working across the community, you will develop trusted relationships with families, carry out assessments and reviews, and coordinate support with local partners, including Intandem mentors. This is a rewarding, community‑focused role where you will directly support kinship families while helping to demonstrate the impact of an innovative new model of support in Scotland.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide intensive one‑to‑one support to kinship carers, helping families access services, build support networks and achieve positive outcomes for the children in their care.
- Carry out assessments, develop support plans, advocate on behalf of families and facilitate a local peer support group.
- Coordinate support for kinship families, strengthen referral pathways and contribute to a pioneering whole‑family approach in West Dunbartonshire.
- Play a key role in safeguarding, partnership working and maintaining high‑quality records to demonstrate impact and inform future development of Kinship’s work in Scotland.
About You
We’re looking for someone with experience supporting vulnerable families, carers or communities through direct casework, family support or similar roles. You’ll be confident building trusted relationships, carrying out assessments, managing a caseload and working collaboratively with statutory and voluntary sector partners. You will bring strong communication, organisation and record‑keeping skills, alongside an understanding of safeguarding and trauma‑informed practice. Knowledge of kinship care or the Scottish family support landscape would be beneficial, as would experience facilitating support groups and using CRM systems such as Salesforce. Most importantly, you’ll be empathetic, resilient and passionate about improving outcomes for kinship families, with the confidence to work independently while contributing to a small, supportive team.
Kinship Navigator - West Dunbartonshire (Family Support Worker) in Clydebank employer: Kinship
At Kinship, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture in our beautiful, plant-filled office located in central London. Our team enjoys a competitive salary, trust-based flexibility, and a strong commitment to work-life balance, all while collaborating closely to create innovative software solutions for architects and engineering teams. With ample opportunities for professional growth and a no-nonsense approach to teamwork, we empower our employees to take ownership of their work and contribute meaningfully to our mission.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Kinship Navigator - West Dunbartonshire (Family Support Worker) in Clydebank
✨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 Kinship.
✨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 Kinship!
✨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 Kinship, 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 Kinship 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 Kinship Navigator - West Dunbartonshire (Family Support Worker) in Clydebank
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 Kinship:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Kinship! 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 Kinship
✨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.
