Senior Family Support Worker

South Gloucestershire Council; Kingswood; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A local government organization in Kingswood seeks a Senior Support Worker to assist families in recognizing and achieving their progress. This role involves conducting family assessments, providing guidance, and mentoring new staff. The position is part-time at 18.5 hours per week and requires a degree, NVQ 4, or equivalent. Join a team dedicated to making a difference in the community with flexible working options and a supportive environment.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Employee wellbeing support

Staff discounts on travel and leisure

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in social work or equivalent is essential.
• Ability to engage with families and support them through challenges.
• Experience in carrying out family assessments is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Conduct holistic family assessments to guide services.
• Monitor and review Early Help plans as needs change.
• Mentor new support workers and guide them as needed.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Resilience

Education

Degree or NVQ 4

Job description

Overview

How you'll make a difference: Working alongside children and families as a Senior Support Worker, you will help them recognise the small steps of progress they make and how they have achieved that themselves. Your work will help families get to the point where they are able to do things by themselves, without the need for professional support.

Responsibilities

• Regularly, you will carry out whole family assessments, providing advice, guidance and establishing plans where appropriate. You'll ensure that our services are effective, and supportive for families with children aged 0-5 years old.
• It will be your responsibility to review and monitor Early Help plans, responding to the changing of needs and renegotiating where appropriate in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
• You will provide guidance and mentoring to other support workers, including those who are new to the team or individuals who require additional help in a specific area of practice.
• You may be required to contribute to or lead on an area of specialism within the team or across the wider preventative services.
• Working with contacts from different sectors, you will ensure that communication is effective, so knowledge and best practice is shared.
• It is essential you hold or be working towards a professional qualification e.g. degree, NVQ 4 or equivalent.
• You will have a willingness and ability to communicate and engage with a wide range of people, on occasions you will need to be patient with them.
• Given the nature of the role, you must be empathetic and have a good sense of judgement of when and how to support, empower, listen, challenge or even step back.
• Working with the complexity of families, you must be resilient and be able to keep going despite knockbacks and frustrations.

What you need to know

• This role is 18.5 hours per week, working Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
• The salary will be pro rata according to hours worked.
• You will be required to travel widely within the authority so you must either have a current driving license and provide a car or have access to appropriate means of travel.
• Please note that due to the nature of this role it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained for this post.
• Interviews will be held week commencing 20th October 2025.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

• As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
• We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance.
• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognized for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.
• Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
• We're providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.
• We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.