At a Glance
- Tasks: Connect with parents in the community and provide essential support for their children.
- Company: Thrive at Five, a national charity dedicated to early childhood development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension contributions, and professional development support.
- Other info: Join a growing team making an impact in Stoke-on-Trent and beyond.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community by supporting families and young children.
- Qualifications: Minimum Level 2/GCSE qualification; experience in education or social care is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 29356 - 35880 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for a new Parent Connector to join our team in Stoke-on-Trent.
Location: This role is predominantly community-based in the relevant programme area – we work across Bentilee, Abbey Hulton, Meir and Burslem – with occasional working from home as agreed with your manager.
Salary: £28,325
About you
- A minimum level 2/GCSE level qualification (essential) or a Level 3 Qualification in an appropriate discipline from backgrounds in education, social care, early help or the voluntary sector (desirable).
- Experience of living and working in the local community or other communities facing similar challenges.
- Basic understanding of child development and early years practice.
- Ability and confidence to quickly build new relationships with parents and carers in the community.
- Confidence in solo working in community spaces.
- Ability to communicate information and advice in a style that supports parents of a range of backgrounds including a warm, empathetic and non-judgemental approach.
About the role
- Reach parents of babies and toddlers up to 5 at scale, focusing on those who do not routinely connect with services, to connect them to support they may need.
- Engaging with parents and carers by establishing opportunities to meet them in community spaces.
- Connecting parents and carers to local and national support based on their unique challenges and needs, identified using key skills like Motivational Interviewing.
- This support might include Parent and Baby Toddler Groups, the Family Hub, other professionals, local services, apps and online resources.
- Promote key Thrive at Five messages aligned with our intermediate outcomes using the Parent Connector toolkit, sharing key information and advice as appropriate.
- Supporting Parent, Baby and Toddler groups leaders to empower parents and children effectively through activities provided and informal support from peers and staff.
- Using sustained relationships with parents and carers to capture testimonials for use by our evaluation and communications teams.
- Capturing and sharing insights from parents and carers as appropriate which could help improve the system and support on offer.
About us
Thrive at Five is a national charity focused on giving every child the best possible start in life. We know the foundations for life and learning are built in the earliest years, from pregnancy to five. By working alongside families, communities and local partners, we help build stronger, more connected support for parents, so more children get what they need to thrive and reach a good level of development by age five.
Thrive at Five is a relatively young organisation but with an already strong national and political profile, having been called out in Parliament for our ways of working in Stoke-on-Trent and invited to be interviewed at the 2025 Civil Society Summit by the Secretary of State for Education. We have grown rapidly in our first four years, with a growing team of nearly 40 across the country. 2026 will be a year of further growth and milestones for the charity as we celebrate our fifth-year anniversary and expand into our third and fourth regions. This will involve recruiting for new teams, establishing our programmes and beginning to co-design and implement our work in partnership with communities.
Please note that as this role is subject to a successful Enhanced Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). If you have any unspent convictions, but wish to apply for this role, please advise us in your application. The successful candidate will also need to provide satisfactory references and current right to work in the UK.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to succeed. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and are dedicated to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process free from discrimination. We believe that a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation and helps us better serve our customers, colleagues and communities.
Pension contributions – We will contribute 3% and you can contribute 5% towards your pension through NEST. 25 annual leave days per year plus bank holidays. £100 contribution towards your professional body membership.
We acknowledge the value of AI in the workplace; however, we ask candidates not to use AI to write or generate application responses. Our recruitment process is designed to assess your individual skills, experience and potential, and we encourage authentic applications that reflect your own work.
Parent Connector, Stoke-on-Trent employer: Thrive at Five
Thrive at Five is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment in Middlesbrough. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer generous benefits including 25 days of annual leave, pension contributions, and support for professional development. Join us in making a meaningful impact on children's lives while being part of a rapidly growing charity that values community engagement and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Parent Connector, Stoke-on-Trent
✨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 Thrive at Five.
✨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 Thrive at Five!
✨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 Thrive at Five, 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 Thrive at Five 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 Parent Connector, Stoke-on-Trent
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 Thrive at Five:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Thrive at Five! 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 Thrive at Five
✨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.
