Family Help Key Workers - Ref: CH06525

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council; Walsall; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking committed Family Help Key Workers to join Children's Social Care across Walsall locality. You will provide intensive, practical and relationship-based support to families with children aged 0–19 (or up to 25 with SEND) to help them thrive.

The role focuses on early intervention, safeguarding, and collaborative working with health, education and community partners. A fixed-term contract runs until March 2028, with a competitive local salary.

Qualifications

• Experience in SEND or related children and family support contexts.
• Understanding of adolescence and wellbeing challenges.
• Strong communication and ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Build positive, trusting relationships with children, young people, parents and carers.
• Provide practical and emotional support that is strengths-based, solution-focused and responsive to family need.
• Work directly with families through one-to-one support, outreach, group work, or parenting interventions.
• Support families to engage with plans, appointments and services, helping to reduce barriers and improve outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with Family Help, health, education, social care, voluntary and community sector partners and other local services.
• Promote safeguarding, equality, diversity, inclusion and culturally responsive practice in all aspects of the role.
• Recognise the impact of invisible needs, contextual challenges, additional needs and SEND on children's experiences, family life and engagement with support.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Independent working

Safeguarding

Equality & inclusion

Job description

Family Help Key Workers - Ref: CH06526

Directorate: Children's Services

Location: Family Help localities across Walsall

Grade: G6 - £31,537 - £34,434 per annum

Contract: Fixed term until March 2028

Why Join Us?

Do you want to be part of a forward-thinking service that is shaping the future of family support in Walsall? As one of the Families First for Children pathfinders, Walsall is at the forefront of developing new approaches to Family Help, bringing services together around babies, children, young people and their families.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference by providing intensive, practical, emotional and relationship-based support to families at times when they may need it most. You will be joining a developing service that values empathy, partnership working, strengths-based practice and the voices of children, young people and families.

Are you passionate about helping children, young people and families to thrive?

Walsall Council is seeking committed, compassionate and resilient Family Help Key Workers to join Children's Social Care as part of our developing Family Help support teams. We are looking for people who can build trusting relationships with families and help them access the right support at the right time.

About the Role

As a Key Worker, you will work with families with children and young people aged 0-19, or up to 25 where they have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). You will provide intensive, practical, strengths-based and relationship-focused support that helps families achieve positive outcomes.

You may work with families during key stages of their journey, including the pre-birth period, early childhood and adolescence. This may include supporting families where children are subject to child protection plans, have been removed from parental care, or where reunification is being considered or supported. You will work alongside families, practitioners and partners to promote engagement, reduce barriers and support children and young people to thrive.

Key Responsibilities

• Build positive, respectful and trusting relationships with children, young people, parents and carers.
• Provide practical and emotional support that is strengths-based, solution-focused and responsive to family need.
• Work directly with families through one-to-one support, outreach, group work, workshops or parenting interventions.
• Support families to engage with plans, appointments and services, helping to reduce barriers and improve outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with Family Help, health, education, social care, voluntary and community sector partners and other local services.
• Promote safeguarding, equality, diversity, inclusion and culturally responsive practice in all aspects of the role.
• Recognise the impact of invisible needs, contextual challenges, additional needs and SEND on children's experiences, family life and engagement with support.

What We're Looking For

We welcome applications from people with a range of backgrounds, particularly those with experience in SEND, adolescent support, youth work, early years, family support, health, education, community services or other settings where you have worked directly with children, young people and families.

• A genuine commitment to supporting babies, children, young people and families.
• Experience of working directly with children, young people and families, including those with SEND or invisible needs.
• An understanding of the needs of adolescents and the challenges that can affect their wellbeing, behaviour, family life and engagement with support.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• A flexible, practical and solution-focused approach, with the confidence to work independently and in partnership with others.
• An understanding of safeguarding and the importance of relationship-based, child-centred practice.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and culturally responsive practice.
• A full induction and training package will be available to support you in the role.

For more information, please contact either [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Closing date 21st September 2026

Interviews to take place 28th September 2026

Walsall Council's Children's Services are the only Ofsted 'Outstanding' local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council's journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children's services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.