Family Support Worker - High Needs

St Mary's Catholic Academy; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Mary's Catholic Academy in Blackpool is seeking a Family Support Worker: High Needs to support our most vulnerable students and their families.

This permanent post is term time only plus 5 days, starting 28 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. You will provide practical and emotional support, advocacy, and tailored interventions; build strong relationships with families; help access community resources; and run one-to-one and group sessions.

Qualifications

• Experience in family support, social care, or a related field.
• Empathetic, patient, and a good listener.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• DBS, medical clearance, and safeguarding checks are required.

Responsibilities

• Build strong, respectful relationships with our children and families.
• Help families access community resources and services.
• Provide one to one and group support sessions.

Skills

Empathetic

Patient

Good listener

Strong communication

Organisational skills

Job description

Thank you for considering St. Mary's Catholic Academy for the next stage in your career. We are seeking to appoint a Family Support Worker: High Needs. The role is to support some of our most vulnerable students and their families in addition to supporting in school “our children”, pupils in local authority care. The post is a permanent post, working term time only plus 5 days, starting on 28th September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

In this rewarding role, you’ll work closely with families to provide practical and emotional support, helping them overcome challenges and build on their strengths. You’ll be a trusted point of contact, offering guidance, advocacy, and tailored interventions to promote positive outcomes for children and their carers.

Key Responsibilities

Build strong, respectful relationships with our children and families.

Help families access community resources and services.

Provide one to one and group support sessions.

About You

Empathetic, patient, and a good listener.

Experience in family support, social care, or a related field.

Strong communication and organisational skills.

St Mary’s is a highly regarded oversubscribed Catholic Academy in Blackpool in the Diocese of Lancaster. The school is very much a Catholic family where everyone works together to support and challenge one another to be the best they can be.

BEBCMAT is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners, staff and visitors. All posts are subject to:
DBS
Medical clearance
Verification of qualifications and National Insurance number.
Two references including a judgement about suitability to work with children.
A member of the interview panel will be trained in implementing Child Protection procedures.
In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, online search be carried out.
For teaching positions, barred list checks and prohibition from teaching checks will be carried out.
For leadership positions, section 128 checks will be performed

Post Details:

Grade: NJC pay Grade F - scale point range 19 - 24

Full Time Equivalent Salary: £33,119.00 to £36,581.00

Actual Salary: £28,577.00 - £31,565.00

Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only plus 5 days

Hours: 37 per week

Start Date: 28th September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter