Senior Support Worker - Family Services

Fair Ways; Southampton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Shield

Employee Assistance Scheme

Early Pay

Education Grant

Holiday accrual scheme

Wellbeing initiatives

Discounted gym membership

Cycle-to-work scheme

Staff Awards

Blue Light Card

Pension scheme

Job summary

Fair Ways is seeking experienced Senior Support Workers to join our expanding Family Centre team in the Solent area. You will contribute to safeguarding, lead shifts, and support families through a structured 12-week placement while promoting trauma-informed care.

This role requires a full UK driving license and enhanced DBS clearance, with visa sponsorship unavailable. Join Fair Ways to help deliver high-quality family-centred services and ensure positive outcomes for children, families and

Qualifications

• Level 3 NVQ in Children’s and Young People’s Workforce or equivalent.
• Sound understanding of legislation and practice relating to child protection, looked after children, and family court care proceedings.
• Knowledge of safeguarding adults legislation.

Responsibilities

• Keeping Children, families and vulnerable adults Safe - oversee safeguarding issues and monitor practice in line with standards and Fair Ways policies.
• Assessment Support - contribute to formal parenting assessments, ensuring quality, fairness and evidence-based practice; monitor family impact and risk during placement.
• Effective Leadership - support handovers, shift planning, and oversee shift operations to ensure daily tasks are completed accurately and the Family Centre runs smoothly.
• Being a Trauma Informed professional - model trauma-informed responses and maintain a therapeutic environment to support families through crises and understand early life experiences.
• Line Management and Supervision - line manage direct reports with reflective supervision and coordinate training and development in line with progression plans.
• Upholding appropriate professional boundaries - monitor health and wellbeing of parents and children while maintaining safe professional boundaries.

Skills

Leadership

Safeguarding

Line management

Team supervision

Education

Level 3 NVQ Children’s and Young People’s Workforce

Job description

Who are Fair Ways and what do we stand for?

Fair Ways is a leading children’s services charity based in the Solent, delivering Fostering, Education, Residential and Family services and cares for over 400 children, families, young people and vulnerable adults each year. Fair Ways is a great place to work. We are a team. We care about each other and are all committed to making a change to the lives of the young people and service users in our care. We will not apologise for calling our staff great, the best, or world-class. Our staff are at the core of our organisation and we celebrate them by shouting it from the rooftops!

Where and when do we need you?

As our Family Services provision continues to grow, we are excited to announce the opening of our third Family Centre, Hazel House. To support this exciting development, we are recruiting for a range of new opportunities across our Residential Family Centres, with positions available to start from January 2027. Families will be referred to the Family Centre if there have been concerns identified around the safety of the children in their current family home. Once with us, the families will be continuously encouraged, assessed and guided through a 12 week stay where they are monitored 24/7 to encourage sustainable positive parenting changes.

As a Senior Support Worker, you will be involved in exciting and rewarding things like:

• Keeping Children, families and vulnerable adults Safe - To support the Team Leader oversee presenting safeguarding issues and the monitoring of good practice within the Family Centre and ensuring safe working practices in accordance with regulatory standards and in line with Fair Ways Policies and Procedures.
• Assessment Support - To contribute to formal parenting assessments in conjunction with colleagues, ensuring these are of high quality, fair, robust, and evidenced based and to monitor the family's impact and risk assessment while in placement ensuring their safety and support needs are met at all times.
• Effective Leadership - To work with your Team Leader to support handovers, shift planning and to have oversight of the shift (when required) ensuring that all required daily tasks are completed appropriately and accurately facilitating the smooth running of the Family Centre.
• Being a Trauma Informed professional - To oversee and model trauma informed responses through the individualised use of therapeutic support. You will demonstrate the therapeutic importance of maintaining a clean, tidy and homely environment through effective role modelling, ensuring families are supported appropriately during times of crisis and that we demonstrate an understanding of the parents early life experiences, focussing on educating families to understand what is good and healthy for children and babies to grow and thrive.
• Line Management and Supervision - To line manage a small number of direct reports offering reflective supervisions, guidance and undertaking monitoring of any required training and development in line with our professional development and progression plans. To proactively maintain safe and respectful relationships with parents and children through effective support, guidance and care.
• Upholding appropriate professional boundaries Observing, assessing and monitoring the health and wellbeing of parents and children within the family centre whilst ensuring the maintenance of safe professional boundaries in line with best practice.

This position is offered on a full-time permanent basis working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. All candidates must have a full driving license and have access to the use of a car. Successful candidates will be required to provide an enhanced Disclosure (DBS). This disclosure cost will be met by Fair Ways. Fair Ways are unable to provide VISA sponsorship for this role and all applicants will need to be able to provide evidence of right to work in the UK.

You and your specialisms

Senior roles within our frontline services help achieve our mission of making a difference through passionate care, support, and education. To support this, you will be required to have a minimum of the following qualification levels:

• To hold or be working towards a minimum of a Level 3 NVQ Children’s and Young Peoples Workforce
• To have a sound understanding and working experience of legislation and practice relating to child protection, children who are looked after and family court care proceedings.
• To have a sound knowledge of legislation relating to safeguarding adults.

At Fair Ways, we care about your well-being, here is what we currently offer to our dedicated team:

• Exciting Opportunities: Participate in free staff lotteries with amazing prizes, such as £1000 holiday vouchers, weekends away, luxury hampers, £1000 fostering referral scheme and vouchers. Experience a workplace that celebrates your contributions.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a Holiday Accrual Scheme, an extra day of annual leave as a ‘wellbeing day’ and the option to purchase additional holidays (up to 5 days). We value your time and offer flexibility to accommodate your existing commitments.
• Health and Support: Benefit from Health Shield, our health cash plan, and access to our Employee Assistance Scheme, providing emergency financial assistance and 24/7 counselling services. Access your salary when you need it with Early Pay – The ability to withdraw an amount of your salary early each month to assist with any unforeseen circumstances.
• Growth and Development: Progress and develop in your career with excellent support from an employer committed to ensuring you reach your goals. Unlock your potential with our Education Grant, offering funding for accreditation up to master's level. Engage in leadership courses to enhance your skills and progress in your career.
• Wellbeing Matters: Experience team-building days, summer festivals, and well-being initiatives, promoting a positive work environment. Take advantage of discounted gym memberships and a cycle-to-work scheme to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Recognition and Rewards: Be appreciated for your dedication through annual Staff Awards and Long Service Awards. Build a secure future with our pension scheme and gain eligibility for a Blue Light Card.
• Supportive Community: Be part of our diverse workforce that embraces all communities. We value your unique perspective and encourage you to contribute to our inclusive and vibrant culture.

Become a part of our community – We can’t wait to meet you!

If you're passionate about making a difference and are ready to embark on an incredible journey, be a part of something amazing at Fair Ways. Join our team and help shape brighter futures!