At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide emotional and holistic support to families of children with palliative care needs.
- Company: Martin House, a compassionate hospice providing specialist care for children and young people.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, sick pay, health programmes, and life insurance.
- Other info: Join a dedicated team committed to person-centred, trauma-informed care.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in families' lives during their most challenging times.
- Qualifications: Empathy, communication skills, and experience in health or social care settings.
Family Support Practitioner - Psychological wellbeing
Martin House provides free specialist palliative care to babies, children and young people with complex and life‑shortening conditions. Families from across West, North and East Yorkshire have access to our care 24/7, 365 days a year, including specialist doctors. Every year we care for more than 550 families, at the hospice, in hospital and in families’ own homes, as well as supporting around 200 bereaved family members.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Family Support Team as a Family Support Practitioner (Psychological Wellbeing).
About the role
The key purpose of this role is to provide emotional and holistic support to the parents, carers and family members of children and young people with palliative care needs, as well as offering compassionate early bereavement support following the death of a child. You will be part of a warm, dedicated and highly skilled team delivering high‑quality family support services across the region. Your work will focus primarily on promoting parental wellbeing, strengthening resilience, offering emotional support and walking alongside families as they navigate some of the most challenging experiences of their lives.
Working closely with families in the hospice, community and hospital settings, you will help create safe and supportive spaces where parents and carers feel heard, valued and empowered. You will support families from the point of referral, through periods of illness and uncertainty, and into bereavement where appropriate. The successful candidate will work under the guidance and supervision of qualified professionals within the Family Support Team, including psychologists, mental health practitioners and therapists. Together, you will provide thoughtful, evidence‑informed and person‑centred care that reflects the unique needs, strengths and experiences of every family.
Qualifications
- Be warm, empathetic and skilled at building trusting relationships with families.
- Have experience of supporting children, young people, parents or carers within a health, social care, education or voluntary sector setting.
- Demonstrate an understanding of emotional wellbeing, grief, loss and bereavement.
- Be able to work sensitively with families experiencing significant emotional distress and uncertainty.
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Be able to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Be committed to person‑centred, family‑focused and trauma‑informed practice.
- Be organised, reflective and willing to learn through supervision and professional development.
- Share Martin House's values of compassion, respect, integrity and excellence.
- Experience of working with families affected by life‑limiting conditions, palliative care needs or bereavement would be advantageous, although not essential.
Benefits
- Annual leave – eight weeks per year, including bank holidays
- Sick pay – six months full pay and six months half pay following successful completion of probationary period.
- Recognition of NHS pension scheme for candidates who are currently in the scheme and up to 10 per cent contributory AVIVA scheme.
- Enhanced maternity and partners leave to exceed the NHS entitlement
- Health and wellbeing programme including access to free of charge Employee Assistance Programme for employees and their families
- Accredited Menopause and Mindful employer
- Life insurance – two times annual salary
- Free parking at our children’s hospice in Boston Spa
Salary
£26,931.14 to £32,185.20 per annum pro rata (Starting salaries usually start at the bottom of the scale)
All applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK.
Martin House is committed to providing care and improving services irrespective of race, ethnicity, disability, gender, religion or belief, age, marital status, or sexual orientation.
Martin House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees to share this commitment.
Recruitment checks are undertaken in accordance with safer recruitment standards and successful applicants will be required to undertake a DBS via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Family Support Practitioner - Psychological wellbeing in Boston Spa employer: Martin-House-Children
Martin House is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and compassionate work environment for Paediatric Palliative Care Nurses in the beautiful setting of Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. With a strong emphasis on employee growth through dedicated nurse educators and a collaborative multidisciplinary team, we ensure that our staff are well-equipped to provide the highest quality of care. Our commitment to family-centred care not only enriches the lives of the children and families we serve but also fosters a fulfilling and meaningful career for our nurses.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Practitioner - Psychological wellbeing in Boston Spa
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
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✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
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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 Martin-House-Children:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Martin-House-Children! 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 Martin-House-Children
✨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.
