At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide practical and emotional support to families, helping them thrive and overcome challenges.
- Company: Join Walsall Council's innovative Children's Services team making a real difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, training opportunities, and the chance to impact lives positively.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and a commitment to safeguarding and inclusion.
- Why this job: Be part of a supportive community focused on empowering children and families.
- Qualifications: Experience with children and families, strong communication skills, and empathy are essential.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Location: Family Help localities across Walsall
Grade: G7: £35,412 - £38,220
Contract: Permanent
Why Join Us?
Do you want to be part of a service that is helping to shape the future of Family Help in Walsall? Being one of the Families First for Children pathfinders, Walsall is developing new ways of working that bring support closer to children, young people and families, with a strong focus on early intervention, partnership working and improving outcomes. This fixed-term opportunity offers the chance to make a real difference by providing tailored support and guidance to children, young people and families across the borough. You will be part of a developing Family Help service that values relationship-based practice, family-led support, safeguarding and the voices of children and young people.
About the Role
As a Family Help Support Worker, you will provide practical and emotional support to children, young people and families to improve wellbeing, strengthen resilience and support positive change. You will work collaboratively with families to understand their strengths, needs and goals, and help develop realistic, family-led plans of support. You will work alongside colleagues and partners across education, health, police, social care and voluntary and community services to deliver coordinated support. The role includes direct work with families, assessment, intervention, advocacy, safeguarding activity, acting as the Lead Professional where appropriate, and helping families access universal, targeted and specialist services.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver high-quality, outcome-focused support to children, young people and families in line with statutory guidance and organisational priorities.
- Undertake person-centred assessments of family needs, strengths and risks using approved tools and frameworks.
- Develop, implement and review tailored support plans in partnership with families, ensuring goals are realistic, achievable and family-led.
- Act as the Lead Professional where appropriate, coordinating family-led plans, bringing partners together and ensuring support is joined up around the needs of children, young people and families.
- Provide direct practical and emotional support through structured sessions, group work and community-based interventions.
- Support parents and carers to build parenting capacity, resilience and positive relationships within the family.
- Facilitate access to universal, targeted and specialist services, advocating for families where needed to remove barriers.
- Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners to deliver integrated and coordinated support.
- Maintain accurate, timely and confidential records of interventions, assessments and casework.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for people who can build positive, professional relationships with children, young people, families, colleagues and partners. You will need to be empathetic, organised, flexible and confident in working with families who may be experiencing a wide range of needs, including distress, conflict or complex circumstances.
- Experience of working with children, young people and families with a wide range of needs.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to listen, show empathy and build trusting relationships.
- Good problem-solving skills, including the ability to understand need, analyse information and identify practical solutions.
- Experience of developing effective working relationships and support plans with families and colleagues.
- An understanding of safeguarding, risk management, child development and adolescent development.
- Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage your own workload and maintain accurate records.
- A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, confidentiality and information governance.
- A relevant foundation-level qualification or equivalent significant experience in children's services.
Special Conditions
You may be required to work evenings and weekends as needed. The role is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and requires the ability to travel efficiently across the borough. Basic digital skills are essential for accessing and using employee self-service systems. A full induction and training package will be available to support you in the role.
For more information, please contact either Julie.Jones@walsall.gov.uk or Georgina.Atkins@walsall.gov.uk.
Closing date: 21st September 2026. Interviews to take place on 28th September 2026.
Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce.
Family Help Support Worker (Permanent) in Walsall employer: Walsall Council
Walsall Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being and development of its staff. As a Residential Childcare Worker, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children in care while benefiting from competitive pay, including additional compensation for sleep-ins, and access to ongoing training and professional growth within a dedicated team environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Family Help Support Worker (Permanent) in Walsall
✨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 Walsall Council.
✨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 Walsall Council!
✨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 Walsall Council, 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 Walsall Council 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 Family Help Support Worker (Permanent) in Walsall
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 Walsall Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Walsall Council! 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 Walsall Council
✨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.
