Family Support Worker (Phoenix Resource Centre) - 05639

West Berkshire Council; Newbury; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working where possible

Local Government pension scheme

Family friendly policies

28 days annual leave + 5 days after 5/

Job summary

West Berkshire Council is seeking a Family Support Worker to join our Early Help and Family Hub Team in West Berkshire. You will work with families to assess needs, deliver early help interventions, and collaborate with professionals to improve outcomes for children.

The role offers flexible working where possible, with a focus on safeguarding and family support. The position is fixed-term until 31/03/2029, with a potential for varied hours and the opportunity to develop within a supportive

Qualifications

• Experience providing support to families and children.
• Knowledge of child development and parenting practices.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong assessment and observation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and relevant legislation.

Responsibilities

• Working directly with families to identify needs and provide support.
• Delivering evidence-based interventions to promote positive parenting and family relationships.
• Collaborating with professionals and agencies for coordinated support.
• Running groups for children and families (antenatal, Stay and Play, family learning).
• Participating in team meetings and multi-agency planning.

Skills

Experience working with families

Knowledge of child development

Excellent communication skills

Assessment and observation skills

Independent and team working

Safeguarding knowledge

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

As a Family Support Worker, you will be part of a dynamic team working to deliver early help interventions that improve outcomes for children and families. Your key responsibilities will include:

• 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.

This is a fixed term role (Funding limited project) until 31/03/2029

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:

• 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?

West Berkshire Council is committed to supporting our employees and offers a range of excellent employment benefits, including:

• Flexible working wherever possible
• 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. (Pro rata for fixed term)

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.

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

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.