Family Support Worker

Routes to Work; Motherwell; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team at a forward-thinking organization committed to supporting families in need. As a Family Support Worker, you will play a crucial role in delivering person-centered services to children and young people with additional needs. Your work will involve collaboration with various community partners to ensure families receive the support and resources they need. This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of families while working in a supportive and dynamic environment. If you are passionate about helping others and have the skills to connect with diverse families, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Experience working with neurodivergent children and families.
• Ability to produce written reports and work independently.
• Good understanding of health, social care, and education sectors.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted support for children with emotional and behavioral challenges.
• Develop partnerships with community services to support families.
• Contribute to planning and implementing supportive programs.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Empathy

Childcare Knowledge

Teamwork

Report Writing

Networking

IT Skills

Education

Relevant Degree in Childhood/Youth Development

General Education

Tools

Charity Log

JotForm

Job description

A Motherwell based organisation that came together to address a need for support to be offered to carers are looking for Family Support Workers to add to their team. Governed and staffed by carers or former carers, they are now contracted by University Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Council to provide services to carers living in North Lanarkshire. They are the Information and Advice Service for carers and professionals, support short breaks (Carer Breather) through a Carer Support Network, and provide a Family Support Service for families where there is a child or young person in education who has an additional need for support.

35 hours per week

Duration ; Permanent

Purpose of Post

1. To have a key role in the operational delivery and development of the organisation’s key objectives for the Neurodevelopmental Family Support Service, commissioned by North Lanarkshire Council (Education & Families), working closely with the Manager, the Board of Directors, and key partners.

2. To work as part of the ND Family Support team to offer support and co-ordination in the delivery of an overarching family support service in North Lanarkshire. This will include close partnership with Education & Families NL and the Neurodevelopmental Team, as a link between children and young people and their carers and a range of community-based services. The post will provide person-centred, targeted support and interventions to children and young people in need of support and their carers accessing the service. A key part of the role will be to work with the community and voluntary sector and other partners to link children and families into wider community supports, and provide direct information, advice and support to families including emotional and practical support, psychoeducation and the provision of thematic group work where identified.

Reports to and supported by: Family Support Lead

DUTIES:

Key Areas of Activity As a Family Support Worker:

1. To contribute to the planning and implementation of targeted intervention including information and supportive programmes for children and young people with a Neurodevelopmental profile and/or emotional and behavioural challenges and their parents/carers.

2. To develop good working knowledge of available, relevant, services and projects in the local area to enable signposting and referrals.

3. To provide early supportive interventions and access to other services as required, including 1:1 support and interventions to Children & Young People.

4. To maintain effective working relationships within multi-agency, child focused services, including Education & Families, CAMHS, NLC Community Hubs, Social Work and Community and Voluntary Sector.

5. Work in an open and collaborative manner with families, respecting their individuality and always protecting their confidentiality.

6. Demonstrate an awareness of the need for and participate in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of any interventions.

7. Contributing to the provision of reports including statistical information using agreed recording tools to detail work activity and outcomes.

8. Be aware of and compliant with all Education & Families / NHS Lanarkshire / North Lanarkshire Carers Together policies, procedures, and local guidance, e.g., child protection, health and safety.

9. Undertaking training, as identified by the Family Support Lead and/or Manager to support and develop your role.

10. Undertaking occasional evening and weekend work.

11. Promoting and implementing the aims, objectives, and commitment to carers of North Lanarkshire Carers Together.

12. Woking with relevant organisations to ensure a consistency of information that is accessible, proportionate, and tailored to individual carers needs.

13. Supporting the development and dissemination of information for carers and professionals around the work of North Lanarkshire Carers Together.

14. The provision of a signposting and referral service through incoming enquiries and other key areas of activity that links carers into a range of supports appropriate to their needs.

15. Participating in meetings and forums relating to the work of the post including supervision, staff team meetings and development sessions.

16. Undertaking any other tasks that the Family Support Lead and/or Manager may deem are appropriate to the role.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Good standard of general education

Experience working in health, social care, education, or 3rd Sector

Able to demonstrate effective and meaningful involvement with neurodivergent children or those with social, emotional, and behavioural needs and their families

Experience of working on own initiative

Experience of working as part of a team

Childcare or health care knowledge acquired through qualifications or training

Skilled networker and comfortable in multi-agency meetings and networks

Ability to produce and contribute to written reports in line with organisational and partner requests

Excellent interpersonal skills demonstrating ability to

Empathise with carers and young carers

Actively listen in a one-to-one supportive conversation

Initiate and sustain positive working relationships

Present ideas concisely and clearly

Good IT skills with experience in relevant Microsoft Packages.

Confident self-starter, who can manage and organise their own workload to achieve outcomes and outputs within a defined timescale

Evidence of an empathetic, non-judgmental attitude

Willingness to travel

Willingness to work out with normal office hours

Ability to work effectively from home

Full clean driving license and access to a car

Ongoing clear Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) registration

DESIREABLE REQUIREMENTS:

Relevant degree or qualification in Childhood/Youth Development, Children & Families, Autism or Counselling/Therapeutic interventions

Experience of facilitating group work to children and/or parent carers

Experience of working with children with additional support needs

Understanding of the issues, challenges and barriers that face unpaid carers

Skilled in the use of Charity Log

Skilled in the use of JotForm

If you are a registered client with Routes To Work, please contact your caseworker to apply. If you are not a registered client, please contact us to check you are eligible for this opportunity.