Family Support Worker -05778

West Berkshire Council; Thatcham; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid work

Training opportunities

LGPS pension

Family friendly policies

Employee discounts

Wellbeing programme

Annual leave 28+ days

Job summary

West Berkshire Council invites applications for a Family Support Worker to join the Early Help and Family Hub Team in West Berkshire. You will work directly with families to identify needs, deliver evidence‑based parenting support, and coordinate with other professionals for holistic help.

The role offers flexible, hybrid working and development opportunities, plus a generous Local Government pension, family‑friendly policies, and substantial annual leave.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role providing support to families and children.
• Sound knowledge of child development and parenting practices.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for building relationships with families and professionals.
• Strong assessment and observation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team with flexibility.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with families to identify needs and provide support and guidance.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions to promote positive parenting and improved family relationships.
• Collaborate with other professionals and agencies for coordinated support.
• Run groups for children and families, including antenatal, Stay and Play, and family learning groups.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to information sharing and multi-agency planning.

Skills

Family support

Child development

Communication

Assessment skills

Teamwork

Safeguarding

Job description

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of families and children? West Berkshire Council is seeking a dedicated Family Support Worker to join our Early Help and Family Hub Team, providing essential support to families in the West Berkshire area.

The Role

Responsibilities

• Working directly with families to identify their needs and provide appropriate support and guidance
• Delivering evidence-based interventions to promote positive parenting, behaviour change, and improved family relationships
• Collaborating with other professionals and agencies to ensure coordinated support for families
• Running groups for children and their families, including antenatal, Stay and Play, and family learning groups.
• Participating in team meetings and contributing to information sharing and multi‑agency planning

We are ideally looking to offer the successful candidate the full number of hours advertised above. We may however consider offering less hours than advertised providing they meet the requirements of the role and service which will be determined by the recruiting manager.

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience working in a similar role, providing support to families and children
• Sound knowledge of child development, parenting practices, and the challenges faced by families
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with families and professionals
• Strong assessment and observation skills
• Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and Best Start in Life strategy, and safeguarding procedures

Why Work for West Berkshire Council?

• Flexible working wherever possible between the hours of 07.00-21.00
• Hybrid working wherever possible working 40% in the office
• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
• Generous Local Government pension scheme
• Family friendly policies
• A range of local discounts
• Wellbeing Programme including Employee Assistance Programme and employee benefits
• You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days per annum (plus public holidays) Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service.

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Join us at West Berkshire Council and make a positive impact in our community while advancing your career. Explore everything that a career with West Berkshire Council has to offer here: Working with Us

If you would like to learn more about this role, please contact Flic Ellmes, Early Help and Family Hub Team Manager, on 01635 503540 or email [e-mail]

Equal Opportunities

The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

AI in Applications

We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.

However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.

We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.

This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.

West Berkshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share these values. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. This role involves regulated activity with children. As such, appointment is subject to an Enhanced DBS check with the relevant Barred List(s).

In this post you will be required to maintain continuous registration with the DBS Update Service for the duration of your employment.

This privacy notice applies to job applicants applying for vacancies with West Berkshire Council https://info.westberks.gov.uk/pnapplications