Specialist Family Support Worker

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Norfolk seeks a dedicated Specialist Family Support Worker to join a compassionate team focusing on children with learning disabilities. This full-time position involves assessing mental health needs and implementing personalized intervention plans. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and experience, a passion for child-centered care, and the ability to work collaboratively with families and professionals. Flexible working options and a driving license are required.

Qualifications

• Compassionate and enthusiastic approach to children and families.
• Experience working directly with children with learning disabilities.
• Ability to engage effectively with professionals and families.

Responsibilities

• Assist in assessing children's mental health needs.
• Implement individual intervention plans for children.
• Record and report assessments and interventions accurately.
• Develop good relationships with families and children.

Skills

Knowledge of childcare and development

Client assessment and planning skills

Communication methods (Signalong, PECS)

Education

NVQ 3 or HND qualification in child/social studies

Further qualification/courses in related fields

Job description

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Specialist Family Support Worker

The closing date is 04 January 2026.

The Starfish Plus Team are seeking a compassionate and enthusiastic Band 4 Specialist Family Support Worker to join our 'Outstanding' community Children’s and Young People’s Specialist services.

The Starfish Plus Team is an intensive Learning Disability Child and Adolescent Mental Health service (LD CAMHS) for children in Norfolk.

The post is full time (37.5 hours per week), and will be across Norfolk; including Kings Lynn, Great Yarmouth and Norwich. A driving licence is essential. Base is negotiable and flexible working is supported and includes agile/home working where relevant.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be a core member of the team, implementing interventions for children and young people in a range of settings, under the supervision of the Clinical Lead and other clinicians within the StarfishPlus team. The postholder will support other team members within their clinical roles and will work collaboratively with the team and wider professionals and agencies.

We are looking for someone who has experience of working directly with children and young people who have a learning disability and is able to work effectively within a small specialist team. You will need to be able to form good relationships with children, their families and colleagues often when things are very stressful.

We are seeking a candidate who is passionate, child‑centred and family focused and who values the rights and the strengths of children and young people and their families.

Starfish Plus works with children and young people who have a learning disability when there is a high level of concern about their mental health, when there is a risk that they could be admitted to a mental health hospital or a risk they may not be able to stay at home (because of their mental health and/or "behaviour"). We work closely with children, young people and their families across Norfolk to provide multi‑disciplinary mental health assessment and intervention.

Job responsibilities

• To assist in the assessment of childrens mental health needs as a member of the multi‑disciplinary team.
• To implement individual intervention plans to children, families and support services as directed by a senior member of the team.
• The post holder will work on own, without senior staff present, but will follow therapy programmes and guidance provided by qualified staff.
• Record and report back accurately and fully on assessments and interventions undertaken; to monitor child’s progress and to alert qualified staff to the need to change therapy input.
• To communicate relevant information to all involved parties where necessary during and following assessment and intervention.
• To provide formal and individual advice, support and consultation to families and services as directed by senior members of the team.
• Under supervision and in accordance with local priorities and need to work jointly with other organisations to provide parenting support and group work services.
• To attend appropriate child review meetings. To contribute verbally and through written reports to these meetings.
• To develop good working relations with colleagues and staff in statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Use appropriate communication strategies with children with communication difficulties and/or sensory difficulties.
• Work with families with children whose behaviour can be challenging and are experiencing difficulties with their mental health.
• To deliver training to staff in settings and to families, as directed by Clinical Lead.

Professional

• Encourage, develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues, parents and others involved in working with children with challenging behaviour.
• Actively participate in the development of the Starfish Plus service and encourage Best Practice amongst wider Children with disabilities teams locally.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records in keeping with NCHC protocols and security policies.
• Identify and request sufficient time to continue personal/professional development.

Organisational

• To provide annual, monthly, weekly returns as required.
• Manage diary in context of travelling to cover large mix of rural and urban populations.
• Report workload pressures appropriately.
• Effectively engage in group work activities with colleagues.
• Regularly visit children and families in their own homes, frequently as Lone Worker.
• Participate in annual appraisal.
• Attend all mandatory training.
• Participate in staff development and training as appropriate and use supervision to promote personal/professional development.

Qualifications

• NVQ 3 or HND qualification in child/social studies, Health Education or Social Services, or equivalent.
• Further qualification/courses linked to job role (children with learning disabilities, behaviour that challenges etc.)

Experience

• Experience in working with children with learning disabilities and mental health difficulties
• Experience of working with other professionals/agencies
• Experience of working with families
• Experience of working in Community Settings
• Experience of working directly with children and families who are distressed

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Knowledge of childcare and development
• Knowledge of school and educational issues, and opportunities available to families
• Knowledge of legal requirements which affect working with children
• Able to take a person centred approach to clients and families
• Client assessment and planning skills
• Able to plan and prioritise own workload: good time management
• Personal confidence. Able to be assertive when advocating for self and patients

Communication

• Able to communicate effectively in written and verbal English Language
• Ability to engage effectively with other agencies and professionals
• Able to convey information clearly to patients, carer and other professionals both in verbal and written form
• Ability to be able to communicate with children in a variety of different ways.
• Experience of use of communication methods (such as Signalong, PECS etc)

Personal and People Development

• Self‑directed learning skills
• Ability to seek and engage in supervision
• Desire to develop person and professional skills further

Personal Attributes / Behaviours

• Enthusiastic approach to own personal development
• Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
• Caring, understanding approach towards staff, careers and children/young people who use the service
• Flexibility/adaptability to meet the needs of the service
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Team player
• Able to pass on skills/knowledge to others

Other

• Must hold full and valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle
• Able to work within Trust Moving and Handling guidelines e.g. to move patients and equipment

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust