At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide emotional and practical support to families with children facing life-threatening illnesses.
- Company: Join Rainbow Trust, a leading charity dedicated to supporting families in need.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible hours, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in families' lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in child health, education, or social care is essential.
- Other info: Access to extensive training and development opportunities for personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 33600 £ per year.
- Location: South West Team – Bristol and surrounding areas
- Closing date: 17 February 2026
- Interview dates: Interview Dates to be confirmed
- Salary: £24,000 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), to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our South West Care Team.
Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the South West 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.
Location: This post will cover the South West of England, with this position focusing on Bristol and the surrounding area.
What We’re Looking For
- 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
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.
Recruitment: 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 South West Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.
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.
Apply Here
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Family Support Worker - South West Care Team (Bristol and surrounding areas) employer: Rainbow Trust Children's Charity
Contact Detail:
Rainbow Trust Children's Charity Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Support Worker - South West Care Team (Bristol and surrounding areas)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social care sector, especially those who might know about opportunities at Rainbow Trust. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching common questions for Family Support Workers. Think about your experiences and how they relate to the role. We want you to shine when it’s your turn to impress!
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! During the interview, share stories that highlight your commitment to supporting families in need. Let them see your genuine interest in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can keep you fresh in their minds and show that you’re really keen on the position. Plus, it’s just good manners!
We think you need these skills to ace Family Support Worker - South West Care Team (Bristol and surrounding areas)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your passion for supporting families shine through. We want to see your genuine interest in helping those facing tough times, so share your experiences and motivations that drive you to apply for this role.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to match the job description. Highlight your relevant experience in child health, education, or social care, and demonstrate how your skills align with what we’re looking for. This shows us you’ve done your homework!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it reaches us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our amazing benefits there too!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rainbow Trust Children's Charity
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the role of a Family Support Worker. Familiarise yourself with Rainbow Trust's mission and values, especially how they relate to supporting families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. This will help you articulate why you're a great fit for the position.
✨Show Your Empathy
Given the emotional nature of this role, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to connect with families in distress. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've provided emotional support or navigated sensitive situations. This will showcase your warm, inclusive approach that the team is looking for.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-life scenarios. Think about how you would handle various situations involving children and families facing grief or loss. Practising these responses can help you feel more confident during the interview.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few insightful questions ready to ask the interviewers. This could be about the training opportunities available or how the team collaborates with other professionals. It shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if the organisation is the right fit for you.