CS/3770 - Family Support Worker x6

N535 – Family Support Worker – Role Profile

Family Help Lead Practitioner in Plymouth’s Targeted Help Teams

Plymouth City Council’s Family Help Service is looking for 6 Family Support Workers to join our service as Family help Lead Practitioners. To apply for these positions, you must be able to demonstrate extensive experience of working directly with children and their families.

Our Targeted Help Teams deliver intensive family support to children and families, preventing problems from escalating further where multiple vulnerabilities are present and family needs are complex. You will be working creatively, undertaking assessments and utilising family networks to put in place strengths-based plans to empower families to affect sustainable change. You will have experience of using evidence-based interventions and relationship-based practice to work with families to address multiple and complex needs. With the national social work reforms re-shaping how we work with Children in Need this is an exciting time to be a family worker in Plymouth and you will be part of a large team focussed on developing a service that delivers the right support for children and families at the right time.

You will already have some experience of working directly with children and families in a relevant health, youth work, education or social care setting. You will work well as part of a team as well as showing initiative and a problem-solving approach. You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to demonstrate understanding of the Children Act 1989.

You will be committed to working in child-focused and strengths-based way and will have an understanding of the positive impact of whole family approaches which prevent needs from escalating into statutory services. In return, you will be joining a service with a commitment to a ‘High Expectations, High Support, High Challenge’ culture, where we expect you to provide a high standard of support to families and will support you with good quality supervision and training from our Academy. The ideal candidates will be able to demonstrate extensive experience of direct work, interventions with families and assessment skills alongside a strong-values based practice approach rooted in empathy, kindness and compassion.

A full UK driving license is essential and you may be required to transport children and their families as part of your role.

We are a flexible employer and provide a variety of working arrangements tailored to the needs of each role.

The Disclosure & Barring Service Check requirement for this post is: Enhanced Check + DBS Children’s Barred List.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Vikki Opie Vikki.opie@plymouth.gov.uk or Laura Sheppard laura.sheppard@plymouth.gov.uk.

Closing date:- Wednesday 09 July 2025

Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation.

As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.

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