Family Support Worker

Fair Ways; Southampton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free staff lotteries

Holiday accrual scheme

Health cash plan

Early Pay

Education Grant

Cycle-to-work

Pension scheme

Blue Light Card

Staff Awards

Job summary

Fair Ways invites applications for Family Support Worker roles across our Residential Family Centres, with start from January 2027. You will deliver high standards of care and support to families, helping them progress through a 12-week placement with 24/7 monitoring and ongoing assessment.

You will be part of a dedicated team, work the 3-week rolling rota, and must have a full driving licence and access to a car. An enhanced DBS is required and Fair Ways will cover the cost.

Qualifications

• Enhanced DBS disclosure required.
• Full driving license and access to a car.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of the family centre staff team to complete daily tasks with high levels of care and assessment outcomes.
• Support safeguarding issues and monitor good practice to keep children, families and vulnerable adults safe.
• Contribute to formal parenting assessments with colleagues, recording details to ensure quality and evidence-based decisions.
• Liaise with healthcare professionals and attend required meetings to access the right support.
• Model trauma-informed responses and maintain a clean, homely environment for families in placement.
• Maintain professional boundaries with parents and children while providing guidance and support.
• Engage in self-development through supervision and training to stay current with best practices.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Level 3 NVQ Children’s and Young People’s Workforce

Job description

Fair Ways is a leading children’s services charity based in the Solent, delivering Fostering, Education, Residential and Family services and cares for over 400 children, families, young people and vulnerable adults each year. Fair Ways is a great place to work. We are a team. We care about each other and are all committed to making a change to the lives of the young people and service users in our care. We will not apologise for calling our staff great, the best, or world-class. Our staff are at the core of our organisation and we celebrate them by shouting it from the rooftops!

Where and when do we need you?

As our Family Services provision continues to grow, we are recruiting for a range of new opportunities across our Residential Family Centres, with positions available to start from January 2027. Families will be referred to the Family Centre if there have been concerns identified around the safety of the children in their current family home. Once with us, the families will be continuously encouraged, assessed and guided through a 12 week stay where they are monitored 24/7 to encourage sustainable positive parenting changes.

As a Family Support Worker with Fair Ways you will deliver the highest standards of care and support to those you care for:

• Being part of a fantastic team - To work as part of the family center staff team ensuring that all required daily tasks are completed appropriately and accurately and work proactively to ensure that the families always receive the highest levels of care and assessment outcomes.
• Keeping families safe - To support the team with any safeguarding issues and the monitoring of good practice within the Family Centre and ensuring safe working practices in accordance with regulatory standards and in line with Fair Ways Policies and Procedures to keep children, families and vulnerable adults safe from harm for the duration of their assessment.
• Assessment Support - To contribute to formal parenting assessments in conjunction with colleagues, recording this in detail, ensuring these are of high quality, fair, robust, and evidenced based. To monitor the family's impact and risk assessment while in placement ensuring their safety and support needs are met at all times and that the families supported by the family centre achieve the correct outcomes.
• Working with external professionals - To liaise with relevant healthcare professionals with and on behalf of the families that are being supported. This could be through attendance at any required meetings, communication via telephone or written correspondence ensuring families have access to the right support and external professionals as required.
• Being a Trauma Informed professional - To oversee and model trauma informed responses through the individualised use of therapeutic support. You will demonstrate the therapeutic importance of maintaining a clean, tidy and homely environment through effective role modelling, ensuring families are supported appropriately during times of crisis and that we demonstrate an understanding of the parents early life experiences, focussing on educating families to understand what is good and healthy for children and babies to grow and thrive.
• Upholding appropriate professional boundaries - To proactively maintain safe and respectful relationships with parents and children through effective support, guidance and care. Observing, assessing and monitoring the health and wellbeing of parents and children within the family centre whilst ensuring the maintenance of safe professional boundaries.
• Professional and personal development - To manage own personal and continuous professional development through self-assessment, supervision and training, in order to maintain good knowledge of current best practice and statutory regulations ensuring best levels of leadership and support are delivered to your service and staff at all times.

This position is offered on a full time permanent basis working 37.5 hours per week. This will be worked as part of a 3-week rolling rota Monday – Sunday. All candidates must have a full driving license and have access to the use of a car. Successful candidates will be required to provide an enhanced Disclosure (DBS). This disclosure cost will be met by Fair Ways. Fair Ways are unable to provide VISA sponsorship for this role and all applicants will need to be able to provide evidence of right to work in the UK.

Desirable…. but not Essential

Whilst we value the knowledge and understanding that experience and qualifications can bring, we also know that some of our best people have come to us from unrelated backgrounds. These people already held our core values at heart, and with the dedication of our amazing in-house training and development team, we have supported the rest!

• To hold or be working towards a minimum of a Level 3 NVQ Childrens and Young Peoples Workforce
• To have a basic understanding and working experience of legislation and practice relating to child protection, children who are looked after and family court care proceedings.
• To have basic knowledge of legislation relating to safeguarding adults.

At Fair Ways, we care about your well-being, here is what we currently offer to our dedicated team:

• Exciting Opportunities:Participate in free staff lotteries with amazing prizes, such as £1000 holiday vouchers, weekends away, luxury hampers, £1000 fostering referral scheme and vouchers. Experience a workplace that celebrates your contributions.
• Work-Life Balance:Enjoy a Holiday Accrual Scheme, an extra day of annual leave as a ‘wellbeing day’ and the option to purchase additional holidays (up to 5 days). We value your time and offer flexibility to accommodate your existing commitments.
• Health and Support:Benefit from Health Shield, our health cash plan, and access to our Employee Assistance Scheme, providing emergency financial assistance and 24/7 counselling services. Access your salary when you need it with Early Pay – The ability to withdraw an amount of your salary early each month to assist with any unforeseen circumstances.
• Growth and Development:Progress and develop in your career with excellent support from an employer committed to ensuring you reach your goals. Unlock your potential with our Education Grant, offering funding for accreditation up to master's level. Engage in leadership courses to enhance your skills and progress in your career.
• Wellbeing Matters:Experience team-building days, summer festivals, and well-being initiatives, promoting a positive work environment. Take advantage of discounted gym memberships and a cycle-to-work scheme to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Recognition and Rewards:Be appreciated for your dedication through annual Staff Awards and Long Service Awards. Build a secure future with our pension scheme and gain eligibility for a Blue Light Card.
• Supportive Community:Be part of our diverse workforce that embraces all communities. We value your unique perspective and encourage you to contribute to our inclusive and vibrant culture.

Become a part of our community – We can’t wait to meet you!

If you're passionate about making a difference and are ready to embark on an incredible journey, apply today and be a part of something amazing at Fair Ways. Join our team and help shape brighter futures!