Family Support Worker

Rainbow Trust Children's Charity; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's charity in Greater Manchester is seeking a full-time Family Support Worker for a 12-month maternity cover. The successful candidate will deliver high-quality support to families whose children are facing life-threatening illnesses, collaborating with various professionals. Candidates should have relevant experience in child health, education, or social care. The position offers competitive salary, flexible hours, and comprehensive benefits including a company car and extensive training opportunities.

Benefits

Company car

25 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Employee Assistance Programme

Pension scheme with employer contribution

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in a demanding and emotional environment with bereavement support.
• Ability to work collaboratively with professionals across various sectors.
• Practical knowledge of supporting families dealing with difficult circumstances.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a high-quality family support service as part of the Greater Manchester Care Team.
• Provide needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families.
• Work in partnership with health, education and social care professionals.

Skills

Child health, education or social care experience

Child protection knowledge

Communication skills

IT literacy (MS Office)

Understanding of diversity issues

Education

Recognised qualification in education, health or social care

Job description

Family Support Worker - Greater Manchester

Maternity Cover up to 12 months

£24,000 pa + Company Car and benefits (including 25 days annual leave, reward scheme and pension)

Greater Manchester region

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is growing and aims to reach more families in need.

About the role

We are looking to appoint a Family Support Worker for a fixed term period of up to 12 months, full‑time (35 hours per week), to deliver a high‑quality family support service as part of our Greater Manchester Care Team.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager, you will provide needs‑led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child or young person has a life‑threatening or terminal illness, working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals.

Having worked in a demanding and emotional environment and with bereavement support experience, you understand grief, loss and change and how best to help others cope.

What we’re looking for

• An experienced child health, education or social care professional – welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care.
• Warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly.
• Practised in child protection, information sharing and data protection – you lead by example and work within established guidelines.
• Practical and people‑oriented – thriving at a fast pace, maintaining accuracy and confident user of IT (including MSOffice).
• Persuasive and open communicator – working collaboratively with team and volunteers to deliver a high‑quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates.
• A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people and their families – responsive to others’ needs and concerns.

What we offer

• Flexible working hours to balance home and work life.
• Employee Assistance Programme with remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy and mental health resources, and a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand.
• Company car for front line care posts.
• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part‑time).
• Time off in lieu.
• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts.
• Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes.
• Recruitment bonus scheme.
• Family‑friendly policies focused on employee wellbeing and an active cross‑organisational wellbeing group running initiatives throughout the year.
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution and at least 3% employee contribution.
• Option to buy/sell annual leave and additional leave for birthday, wedding/civil ceremony, and half‑day off for Christmas shopping.
• Robust training and development programmes to support learning and growth.

As part of our learning and development, Anne Harris Skills Development Programme aims to provide high‑level training opportunities for all staff, enabling performance to the best of your ability and supporting staff to be their best.

Our Family Support Teams can complete diverse training courses in the first 12 months, including Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, introduction to play, drawing and talking training.

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families with a child with a life‑threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support where they need it for as long as it is needed.

How to apply – please visit our website and apply online. Disclose use of AI on your application. Interviews will take place at our Greater Manchester Care Team office. Flexible working and a full current driver’s licence are required. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.