Child and Family Support Worker

City of York Council; York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking a part-time Child and Family Support Worker to join their Fostering Service. This role focuses on delivering strengths-based support to foster care households and requires strong interpersonal skills to build trust with children and carers. Ideal candidates will have an awareness of child development and the impact of trauma. The position offers hybrid working arrangements and a commitment to staff development and well-being.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives

Flexible working practices

Continuous Learning & Development

Discounts, rewards and savings

Qualifications

• Experience in working with foster care households.
• Ability to conduct enhanced Criminal Record checks.
• Competency in spoken English to CEFR level C1.

Responsibilities

• Deliver strengths‑based support to foster care households.
• Organise and facilitate support groups and training workshops.
• Recruit new foster carers.

Skills

Build trusted relationships with children and foster carers

Awareness of child development and the impact of trauma

Deliver and create learning opportunities using a variety of skills and tools

Understand and promote children's well-being

Good IT skills

Job description

About the role

We are excited to be inviting applications for a part-time Child and Family Support Worker within the Fostering Service. We are seeking an innovative, child‑focused and strengths‑based support practitioner to work with foster care households, to plan, coordinate and deliver interventions for vulnerable children, young people, and their foster carers.

It is an exciting time to join York as the successful candidate will be involved in driving a strong value base of good practice in York with embedding our new practice model, Building Brighter Futures. We continue our journey to implement the Signs of Safety/Belonging approach led by the creators Andrew and Pene Turnell, as well as bespoke training in Family Seeing with Kevin Campbell. The successful candidate will receive continuous training and access to knowledge banks.

Responsibilities

As a Child and Family Support Worker, you will deliver strengths‑based support and interventions to foster care households, co‑working alongside a social worker. This will also include organising and facilitating support groups/training workshops and undertaking direct work with foster carers at times of need. You will also be involved in the recruitment of new foster carers.

Key skills and experience

• Build trusted relationships with children and foster carers
• Awareness of child development and the impact of trauma
• Deliver and create learning opportunities using a variety of skills and tools
• Undertake direct work to understand, promote children’s well‑being
• Good IT skills

It is our aim that foster carers who are managing often complex and varying needs of children receive the right help at the right time as part of a multi‑agency team of support, underpinned by relationship‑based practice.

If you are a creative, innovative practitioner with a passion to support foster carers and children, to motivate, engage and empower those you work alongside, with a variety of skills and knowledge, we would enjoy hearing from you.

Please note, we are not currently licensed to sponsor employees for visas, therefore we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Working arrangements

Hybrid working arrangements are available for this role. Each role at CYC is different and your working arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of the role and in collaboration with you and your needs as part of the recruitment process. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team.

Requirements

City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate must undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

As this role is public‑facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.

Benefits and support

The Council is highly committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities, and as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition, we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.

How to apply

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Dawn Atkin, Fostering Service Manager, [e-mail] on 07742766123.

Closing date: Monday 10 November 2025 at 12 midnight

Interview date: TBC