Fostering Family Support Worker - Belong Project

Portsmouth; London Borough of Southwark; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

The Belong Therapeutic Hub in Portsmouth is recruiting a Family Support Worker to provide practical advice, guidance and support to children, foster carers and families. You will manage a caseload, deliver targeted interventions and work restoratively within a multidisciplinary team to strengthen relationships and promote stability.

Hybrid working is offered with at least 3 days in the office; applicants should have a relevant qualification (NVQ Level 4 or equivalent) and experience with

Qualifications

• Experience of working with families and delivering support interventions.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, fostering and legislation relating to children.
• Understanding of therapeutic parenting and trauma-informed practice.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical advice, guidance and support to children, foster carers and families throughout their journey with the service.
• Manage a caseload and undertake direct work to identify needs, deliver targeted interventions and improve outcomes.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team and contribute to support across emotional wellbeing, education and behaviour.
• Represent the service at professional meetings, educational settings and community events.
• Help create therapeutic environments in which children feel safe, understood and connected.

Skills

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Assess needs

Records & reports

Education

NVQ Level 4 or equivalent

Job description

The Belong Therapeutic Hub is an innovative new service created to improve outcomes for children and young people currently living in residential or other alternative care outside Portsmouth. By bringing together therapeutic, social care and fostering expertise, the hub will identify and support children who may benefit from moving into stable, nurturing foster families.This is an opportunity to become part of a new and developing service with a strong therapeutic ethos. You will have a central role in supporting children, foster carers and professionals, helping to strengthen relationships and promote stability, resilience and positive long-term outcomes

About the Role

As a Family Support Worker within the Belong Therapeutic Hub, you will provide practical advice, guidance and support to children, foster carers and families throughout their journey with the service. You will manage a caseload and undertake direct work to identify needs, deliver targeted interventions and improve outcomes. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to support across a range of areas, including emotional wellbeing, behavioural challenges, family time, education and substance misuse. You will work restoratively and build on the strengths of children, families and foster carers, while representing the service at professional meetings, educational settings and community events. You will also help create therapeutic environments in which children feel safe, understood and connected. The hub’s practice model is informed by PACE, meaning Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy, alongside Dyadic Developmental Practice and relationship-based approaches. A Child Psychologist will contribute to assessments, formulation, consultation, individual work and therapeutic planning as part of the wider team.

The Ideal candidate

Applications are welcomed from experienced Family Support Workers or individuals with a related professional background, such as youth work, residential childcare, family intervention, education, therapeutic support, children's services, fostering services or other roles involving direct work with vulnerable children and families. We recognise that valuable skills and experience can be gained through a variety of professional pathways.

You will need:

• A relevant qualification, such as NVQ Level 4, or equivalent experience
• Experience of working with families and delivering support interventions
• Knowledge of safeguarding, fostering and legislation relating to children
• An understanding of therapeutic parenting, child development and trauma-informed practice
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• The ability to assess needs and produce clear, accurate records and reports
• A collaborative approach to multidisciplinary and multi-agency working
• The ability to manage changing priorities and meet deadlines
• A flexible, positive and outcomes-focused approach
• A driving licence and access to transport, or the ability to travel across Portsmouth, is essential.
• The role will also require occasional evening and out-of-hours work.

Hybrid Working - You will be required to work at least 3 working days in office.

Interview date: Interviews will be held on 4th December 2026

We are a disability confident employer and have an Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act. We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals.Learn more about our values and behaviours.

Safeguarding

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.

You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.