Family Support Worker

The challenging and varied role of a Family Support Worker is ideal for anyone hoping to make a positive impact on the lives of children, young people and families.

As a Family Support Worker, you will offer practical help and emotional support to families experiencing short or long-term difficulties.

The focus of your role is to empower service users to address various challenges and reduce problems and risks in their lives. You will do this by providing hands-on support, and in some cases, you will help make it possible for children to remain with their family.

You might help parents and children with a range of social and personal issues or specialise in a particular area such as domestic abuse, bereavement or homelessness.

Responsibilities

Your role will vary depending on the needs of the family you are helping.

The challenges faced by service users could relate to:

· anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, such as a parent in prison

· behaviour and social interaction

· bereavement and caring responsibilities

· bullying

· disability

· domestic violence and abuse

· drug and alcohol addiction.

· education and learning

· finance and debt.

· housing and homelessness

· language barriers

· learning difficulties

· marital discord, separation and divorce, including care orders.

· mental or physical health issues

· parenting skills

· physical and mental health issues, disabilities and learning difficulties.

As a Family Support Worker, you will typically need to:

· complete an initial assessment of families' needs so that you can identify and plan the support needed to address issues and prevent any problems from escalating.

· undertake regular caseload review meetings with individuals and families during home and community visits to ensure they are fully supported to progress and achieve desired outcomes.

· work with social workers, colleagues, other support service professionals, e.g. Family Support Worker at Glenwood High School and multi-agency networks to evaluate caseload needs and the progress that has been made.

· manage your own workload, administration and diary commitments.

· assess parenting skills and help people to build physical and emotional caring abilities through a range of practical activities.

· help children with learning and development.

· enhance parents' understanding of different education and play strategies.

· provide practical home management support, such as how to bathe a child properly, how to potty train or how to manage behaviour.

· provide budgeting advice to parents so they can manage their household spending.

· coach, mentor and motivate families to understand the benefits of relevant activities.

· maintain accurate and up-to-date administration and caseload records, including reports of all interactions.

· stay with a family during a crisis situation, such as a parent being in hospital.

· attend court sessions when relevant, for example in cases of child protection.

· adhere to professional practice standards and legislation, including confidentiality, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion policies.

· ensure you are up to date on your knowledge of local service provision for appropriate signposting and referrals.

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 24 months

Pay: £14.28 per hour

Expected hours: 30 per week

Benefits:

• Company pension
• On-site parking
• Referral programme

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: Post 2 FSW