Family Time Assistant (3 Posts)

Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Flexi time (up to 2 extra days/month)

Generous local government pension

Incremental annual pay increase

Cycle to work scheme

Discounts at county leisure centres

Job summary

Derbyshire County Council is recruiting three full-time Family Time Assistants to support children, young people and families across multiple sites including Glossop, South Normanton and Swadlincote. You will observe, record, and help coordinate Family Time sessions, maintaining safeguarding and wellbeing, with travel to remote areas as needed.

The role requires compassion, reliability and professional boundaries, and offers annual leave, flexi-time, a generous pension and progression

Qualifications

• Experience of caring for other people is essential.
• Ability to build professional relationships with children and adults while maintaining boundaries.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people and record information using technology.

Responsibilities

• Support and observe Family Time between children and their parents or carers.
• Role model positive approaches, intervening and providing advice when needed.
• Coordinate Family Time, including transporting children and liaising with families and professionals.
• Communicate effectively with parents, carers and foster carers.
• Provide appropriate challenge and help manage difficult situations or behaviour.
• Contribute information to parenting assessments.
• Recognise and report changes in families' circumstances or needs.
• Maintain accurate records of your work with families.
• Identify and respond to risk; ensure safeguarding and health and safety requirements are followed.

Job description

Closing date: 01 November 2026

3 Full-Time Family Assistant Positions available

1 based at Victoria Street Glossop

1 based at The Hub, South Normanton

1 based at The Elms, Swadlincote

Could you help children and families make the most of the time they spend together?

We are looking for caring, reliable, and confident Family Time Assistants to support children, young people, and their families during Family Time.

This is a varied, practical role where you will help create safe and supportive opportunities for children to spend time with their parents and carers. You will support, observe, and record Family Time sessions, while working sensitively with children and adults whose circumstances may be complex or challenging.

What will you be doing?

Family Time can take place virtually, within a Derbyshire County Council building or in a community setting. You will work directly with children, parents, and carers, supporting positive interactions while maintaining a clear focus on children's safety and wellbeing.

You will:

• support and observe Family Time between children and their parents or carers
• role model and demonstrate positive approaches, intervening and providing advice when needed
• help coordinate Family Time, including transporting children and liaising with families and professionals
• communicate effectively with parents, carers, and foster carers
• provide appropriate challenge and help manage difficult situations or behaviour where necessary
• contribute information to parenting assessments
• recognise and report changes in families' circumstances or needs
• maintain accurate records of your work with families
• identify and respond to risk
• ensure safeguarding, confidentiality and health and safety requirements are followed.

About You

You don't necessarily need extensive experience within Children's Services to bring something valuable to this role. The essential experience required is experience of caring for other people, which can have been gained through employment, voluntary work, or your personal life.

You will need to be someone who can build professional relationships with children and adults while maintaining appropriate boundaries. You will be able to communicate with a wide range of people, engage creatively with parents and children, manage challenging situations, and accurately record information using technology.

Experience of working with children, young people, and families with complex needs, or working alongside different agencies supporting families, is desirable rather than essential. An understanding of child development and safeguarding procedures would also be beneficial.

You will need a Level 2 qualification including English and Maths. An NVQ/QCF Level 2 in Health and Social Care is desirable.

The role requires flexibility and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. You will also need to travel to remote areas and outside the county when required and be able to transport service users and resources in your own vehicle.

If you are compassionate, dependable, and confident working with children and families, and can combine warmth and encouragement with clear professional boundaries, we would love to hear from you.

What we offer you:

• 25 days of annual leave plus another 5 once you reach 5 years of continuous service.
• Flexi time, allowing up to an additional 2 days of leave per month.
• Generous local government pension scheme.
• Guaranteed incremental annual pay increase.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Discounts at selected county leisure centres and much more!

We're always pleased to hear from talented people so if you're looking to join a dynamic team and have the skills and experience, we're looking for, then we'd like to hear from you.

For further information please contact [e-mail] or [e-mail]

Provisional Interview Date: 11.11.2026