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- Tasks: Provide emotional and practical support to families with children facing life-threatening illnesses.
- Company: Join Rainbow Trust, a charity dedicated to supporting families in need.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, 25 days leave, a company car, and mental health support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in families' lives while growing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in child health, education, or social care is preferred.
- Other info: Access diverse training opportunities and be part of a caring team.
The predicted salary is between 19200 - 28800 ÂŁ per year.
Location: This role covers Southampton, including Dorset, Hampshire and parts of Wiltshire and Isle of Wight.
Interview dates: Interview Date to be confirmed.
Salary: ÂŁ24,000 pa + Company Car and benefits (including 25 days annual leave, reward scheme and pension).
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.
About the role: We are looking to appoint a Family Support Worker, on a full time basis (35 hours per week), to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our Southampton Care Team. Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the Southampton Care Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness.
Having worked in a demanding and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact.
An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care.
A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly.
Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines.
Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice).
A persuasive and open communicator - you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates.
A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.
What we offer: We are a Best Companies Two-Star rated organisation, an outstanding place to work! We have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:
- Flexible working hours to balance home and working life.
- Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand.
- Company car for front line care posts.
- 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time).
- Time off in Lieu.
- Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts.
- Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes.
- A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme.
- Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross‑organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year.
- Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%.
- The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping.
- Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth.
If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, click here. More information can also be found in our Candidate Pack.
As part of our learning and development Anne Harris skills development programme, we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be their best and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.
Our Family Support Teams are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, counselling skills, introduction to play. The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs.
About us: Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life‑threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.
How to apply: Please complete an application form and send it to recruitment@rainbowtrust.org.uk. Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application. Interviews will take place at our Southampton Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful. If you require any adjustments during the interview process, please let us know. There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.
Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
Your role may include: General administrative tasks, Digitising records by inputting data to our case management system, Collating information.
Family Support Worker - Southampton employer: Rainbow Trust Children
Contact Detail:
Rainbow Trust Children Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Worker - Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research Rainbow Trust and understand their mission. This will help you connect your experiences to their values during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can give you insider tips about the interview process and what it’s really like to work there.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for situational questions! Think of examples from your past where you’ve provided support in challenging situations. This will show you’re ready for the emotional demands of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds.
We think you need these skills to ace Family Support Worker - Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: When you're filling out your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your experiences and what makes you passionate about supporting families.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Family Support Worker role. Mention specific examples of your work in child health, education, or social care that relate to the job description.
Show Your Understanding: Demonstrate your knowledge of the challenges faced by families with children who have life-threatening illnesses. This shows us that you’re not just applying for any job, but that you genuinely care about making a difference.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rainbow Trust Children
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Family Support Worker inside out. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges families face when dealing with life-threatening illnesses. This will help you demonstrate your genuine interest and ability to provide the emotional and practical support they need.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous experience in child health, education, or social care. Think of specific examples where you've successfully supported families or dealt with sensitive situations. This will show that you can handle the demands of the role and have the right background for it.
✨Communicate Openly
As a Family Support Worker, communication is key. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Be ready to discuss how you would collaborate with health, education, and social care professionals to deliver high-quality support. This will highlight your teamwork skills and persuasive communication style.
✨Emphasise Your Values
Rainbow Trust values inclusivity and responsiveness. Be prepared to talk about your approach to diversity issues affecting children and families. Share your understanding of grief and loss, and how you would support families through these tough times. This will show that you align with their mission and values.
