Intensive Family Support Worker

Rightthere; Fort William; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working opportunities

Life insurance

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Right There is seeking an Intensive Family Support Worker to help 12–18 year olds and their families feel safer and more connected across Fort William and nearby areas. The role involves building trusted relationships, assessing needs, and delivering focused 12-week support with a restorative approach.

You will work alongside Social Work, Police, Education and partners, using compassionate, practical methods to reduce risk and promote positive outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience with children, young people and families facing challenges.
• Ability to travel across the agreed geographical area with a valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for work.
• Strong record-keeping and ability to produce clear reports when required.
• Knowledge of GIRFEC, UNCRC, The Promise and SSSC Codes of Practice.
• Calm, respectful, practical and hopeful approach when supporting families.

Responsibilities

• Provide flexible, intensive support to young people and families across Fort William and surrounding areas.
• Collaborate with Social Work, Police, Education and other partners for joined-up wraparound support.
• Use a restorative approach to help families work through conflict and build resilience.
• Carry out whole-family assessments focusing on strengths, needs, risks and progress towards outcomes.
• Support wellbeing, education, safety planning, substance use and family relationships.
• Advocate for young people and families in planning and decision-making.
• Maintain accurate case files and contribute to multi-agency meetings and service development.

Skills

Relationship building

Calm under pressure

Advocacy

Interpersonal communication

Team collaboration

Education

SVQ 2 Social Services and Healthcare for Children and Young People

HNC or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role

Right There has spent 200 years standing alongside people in Scotland. Last year, we supported almost 4,000 people to stay in their homes and stay connected to the people they love. Now, as part of our new Highland-wide Intensive Family Support Service, we are looking for an Intensive Family Support Worker who can help young people and families feel safer, stronger and more supported.

This role is about working alongside young people, aged 12 to 18, who are at risk of criminal exploitation, or at risk of being accommodated away from their families. Over a focused 12-week period, you will provide practical and emotional support that builds on family strengths, reduces the need for statutory support and helps young people stay safe and connected.

Your role

As an Intensive Family Support Worker, you will build trusted relationships with young people, parents, carers, extended family members and the wider support network around them. You will meet families where they are, with no judgement, and work with them to identify goals, understand needs and create positive change.

• Provide flexible, intensive support to young people and families across Fort William and local surrounding areas.
• Work closely with Social Work, Police, Education and other partners to provide joined-up, wraparound support.
• Use a restorative approach to help families work through conflict, strengthen relationships and build resilience.
• Carry out whole-family assessments that focus on strengths, needs, risks and progress towards agreed outcomes.
• Support young people and families with areas such as wellbeing, education, safety planning, substance use and family relationships.
• Advocate for young people and families, making sure their voices are heard in planning and decision-making.
• Maintain accurate case files and contribute to multi-agency meetings and service development.

What you bring

You may already have experience in family support, youth work, social care, education, community services or another role where you have supported children, young people and families through difficult times. What matters most is that you can build relationships, stay calm when circumstances are complex and work in a way that is respectful, practical and hopeful.

• Experience of working with children, young people and families facing challenges, including those on the edges of care.
• A genuine passion for improving the lives of young people and helping families stay together where it is safe to do so.
• Knowledge of issues affecting children, young people and families, including trauma, poverty and family breakdown.
• Understanding of relevant approaches and policy areas such as GIRFEC, UNCRC, The Promise and SSSC Codes of Practice.
• The ability to prioritise, keep accurate records and produce clear reports when required.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and digital systems.
• The ability to travel across the agreed geographical area, with a full valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

You will be qualified, or willing to work towards a relevant professional qualification, such as SVQ 2 Social Services and Healthcare for Children and Young People, HNC or above. If this role excites you but you do not meet every point, we still encourage you to apply.

Our offer

• Reporting to: Service Manager.
• Working pattern: average of 35 hours per week, worked flexibly between 8am and 9pm, Monday to Sunday in a pattern that meets the needs of the service and in agreement with the line manager.
• Usual place of work: your home address, with work also taking place in the local Fort William community. Travel expenses are paid between your usual place of work and appointments undertaken as part of your duties.
• Annual leave: 6 weeks pro rata in the first year, rising to 8 weeks pro rata in the second year, including public holidays.
• Contributory pension through The Peoples Pension, provided you meet auto-enrolment criteria.
• Access to a wide range of benefits including flexible working opportunities, life insurance, enhanced family leave, wellbeing support, mentoring, development opportunities, Cycle to Work and the option to purchase and sell annual leave.

If you are thoughtful, resilient and committed to helping young people and families create lasting change, we would love to hear from you.

About Us

We are a charity that recently celebrated 200 years of standing alongside people in Scotland. Last year we supported almost 4,000 people to stay in their homes and stay connected to the people they love.