At a Glance
- Tasks: Support dads through one-on-one and group sessions, enhancing their mental health and bonding with their children.
- Company: Home-Start Wakefield & District, a community-focused organisation.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, professional development, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for networking and community engagement.
- Why this job: Join us to empower fathers and improve family wellbeing during crucial early years.
- Qualifications: Experience in supporting families and understanding of mental health issues.
The predicted salary is between 24750 - 30250 £ per year.
The Dad Matters coordinators deliver a range of universal and targeted interventions aimed at male parents in the First 1001 Days. They support dads and other male carers with attachment and bonding, mental health and access to service. They also work with professionals and perinatal services to ensure dads and male carers are engaged, supported and heard within clinical pathways.
The post holder will:
- Build on the Home-Start foundation of peer support by engaging and supporting dads in one to one and group situations.
- Ensure that parent – infant relationships are a thread through every relationship and conversation with dads.
- Raise awareness of the risks of poor mental health for fathers and their families during the perinatal period.
- Raise awareness of the impact on fathers of caring for a partner affected by perinatal mental health issues.
- Develop the Dad Matters volunteer role across Wakefield.
- Develop close links with other health and voluntary agencies in Wakefield.
- Facilitate regular consultation with fathers through outreach and focus groups.
Main Responsibilities
Support to Dads
The post holder will provide individual and group support to dads during the perinatal period. This will involve the following:
- Facilitating or co-facilitating ante-natal Dad Chats in person and online.
- Supporting the developments of support offered to dads with children on NICU and those with partners in receipt of care from Perinatal Mental Health teams, Adult Mental Health, IAPT and Parent Infant Mental Health teams.
- Signposting and supporting access to other services as appropriate.
- Undertake designated responsibilities to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.
- Ensure equality of opportunity, fairness and diversity in all aspects of work.
- Facilitate regular focus groups with fathers in order to ensure that all resources are targeted appropriately.
Promotion & Awareness Raising:
Maintain up-to-date information for dads and make this available through the Dad Matters website and a range of social media. Engage dads through social media, self-referral and email. Ensure the integrity of the Dad Matters Brand when engaging dads and professionals.
Recruiting & Managing Volunteers
This will involve:
- Recruiting, selecting and preparing suitable volunteers.
- Arranging and co-ordinating volunteer activity in person and online.
- Providing support and supervision for volunteers engaged in working with dads.
- To provide further training for Home-Start Dad Matters volunteers as appropriate.
Monitoring & Evaluation:
Support the evaluation of the impact of Dad Matters. Ensure accurate and relevant record keeping and data collection.
Working in Partnership
Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with key health partners, including those from Parent Infant Mental Health teams, Midwifery, IAPT, Perinatal Teams, Adult Mental Health, Health Visiting and other VCSE groups. Networking appropriately within the community. Delivering/co-delivering training to multi-agency colleagues as appropriate.
Supporting the work of Home-Start
To contribute to the effective day to day operation of Home-Start in accordance with the Home-Start Memorandum & Articles of Association, Home-Start Standards & Methods of Practice, Home-Start Agreement and Quality Assurance Standards. Undertaking work as delegated by the leadership team to support the strategic management, development and future funding of Home-Start. Supporting the implementation and review of Home-Start policies and procedures. Complying with Home-Start’s administration, monitoring and financial systems. Promoting the work of Home-Start and of this project as required. Contributing to and supporting the development of the Home-Start network locally, regionally and nationally.
The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties that fall within the nature of the role and responsibilities of the post as detailed above.
This job description is current as at May 2026.
ESSENTIAL Method of Assessment
A = Application Form, I = Interview, E = Exercise
- Education and qualifications: Relevant standard of education.
- Employment History: Relevant previous or current employment, experience or voluntary work.
- Support to Dads: Understanding of the needs of families with young children/infants.
- Knowledge of the impact that poor mental health can have for dads during the perinatal period.
- Knowledge of early attachment and of the impact of parental mental health issues on the parent’s relationship with their baby.
- Experience of the barriers and challenges faced by men when they become parents.
- Understanding of safeguarding issues.
- Knowledge of current legislation and policies relating to children and families.
- Ability to facilitate groups.
- Ability to engage with and consult fathers from a range of backgrounds.
- Ability to use social media effectively and responsibly.
- Ability to develop supportive relationships with dads.
- Knowledge and experience of recruiting and supervising volunteers.
- Ability to deliver volunteer training.
- Working in partnership and in the wider context: Knowledge of the roles of agencies providing services for children and families.
- Project promotion skills.
- Training and presentation skills.
- Supporting the work of Home-Start: Ability to prioritise and undertake planning.
- Ability to process and collate information.
- Experience of using outcomes measures for evaluating and monitoring.
- Ability to prepare reports and statistical information.
- Self management/personal attributes: Ability to thrive in a changing work environment.
- Experience of building supportive relationships.
- A positive and creative approach to tackling tasks.
- Knowledge of and commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.
- Understanding of the need for professional confidentiality.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Skills in managing barriers that fathers may have to engagement.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
Special requirements
Able to work flexibly, some evening or weekend work and occasional residential training. Willingness to access training opportunities. Ability to use audio-visual aids, computers and filming equipment. Car driver. Eligibility to work in the UK.
DESIRABLE
Experience of a child on NICU. Relevant professional training, for example, Health Visitor, Teacher, Social worker, Child carer. Teaching or training qualification or experience or working towards. Experience of work in the voluntary sector or as a volunteer.
Dad Matters Family Support Coordinator in Wakefield employer: Volunteer Centre
Join our dynamic team at the Volunteer Centre in Leeds, where we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive work environment that champions employee well-being and professional growth. As a Service Manager for Crisis Services, you will benefit from flexible working arrangements, generous annual leave, and the opportunity to lead a multi-award-winning team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Dad Matters Family Support Coordinator in Wakefield
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
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✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
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✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
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We think you need these skills to ace Dad Matters Family Support Coordinator in Wakefield
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 Volunteer Centre:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Volunteer Centre! 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 Volunteer Centre
✨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.
