Family development worker jobs

Barnardo's is one of the UK's leading children's charities, and our North England Fostering Service has recently been rated ‘Good' by Ofsted.

We are committed to providing safe, nurturing, and supportive homes for children and young people. We are now looking for a passionate and skilled Supervising Social Worker to join our committed team.

Our North England service covers Yorkshire, Humber, and the North East of England.  This role will mainly cover the North East, with expectations of traveling to North Yorkshire on occasions.

About the Role

This exciting opportunity has arisen following an internal promotion.

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting foster carers to deliver high-quality care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a protected caseload with access to innovative social work training
• Supervising, supporting, and developing foster carers
• Undertaking assessments of prospective foster carers
• Contributing to the matching process and foster home stability
• Working collaboratively with children, families, carers and professionals
• Maintaining accurate and timely records in line with regulatory standards
• Delivering training to foster carers
• Following Induction period participating in the out-of-hours rota (with additional payment)

What We're Looking For

We're seeking an individual who is:

• A qualified Social Worker (DipSW, CQSW or equivalent)
• Registered with Social Work England
• Experienced in fostering or children's social care
• Skilled in building strong, supportive relationships
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

Why Join Barnardo's?

• A supportive and inclusive working environment
• Access to high-quality training and development, including DDP and trauma-informed approaches
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• Opportunities to develop your career within a well-respected national charity

Additional Information

• A recognised Social Work qualification and SWE registration are essential
• Experience in Family Placement, Child Protection, or Looked After Children services is required
• A full UK driving licence, access to a car, and business-use insurance are essential due to the nature of the role

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Family Support Worker

£24,000 pa + Company Car (with an approx. retail value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8K) and other excellent benefits

Merseyside and Cheshire and surrounding areas

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

'We are looking to appoint a Family Support Worker on a full-time basis (35 hours, 5 days per week) to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our Merseyside and Cheshire Care Team to families in the local area, at a time where they need it most.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the Merseyside and Cheshire Care Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness.

Having worked in a demanding and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact. You will enjoy responsibility for managing your own schedule, remaining flexible to the needs of the families on your caseload.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator - you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We are proud to be a Best Companies Two-Star rated organisation, an outstanding place to work! As a Top 10 Charity, we have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

· Control over your own schedule, based on the needs of families on your caseload, to balance home and working life

· Company car for front line care posts (car P11D value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8k)

· Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%

· 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)

· The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping

· Time off in Lieu

· Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year

· Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand

· Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts

· Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes

· A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme

· Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth.

If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, please visit our why work with us page on our website.

More information about us and our recruitment process can be found in our Candidate Pack on our website.

Development opportunities:

As part of our learning and development Anne Harris skills development programme, we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be their best and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Teams are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, counselling skills, introduction to play.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

Please visit our website via the link and complete an application form.

Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Additional information:

Interviews will take place at our Merseyside and Cheshire Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Location (UK): Home-based with travel as detailed below.
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week, occasional weekend and evening work.
Salary: £30,635 per annum (rest of UK)
Benefits: Read more about the excellent benefits we offer on our profile page.
Contract type: Fixed term maternity cover until September 2027.
Travel: Regular travel into Manchester as well as occasional travel across North West England (e.g. Liverpool), North Wales, North East England (e.g. Newcastle), and the UK for meetings, residentials and events as needed.
Closing date: 23:59 hours, Sunday 28 June 2026

Join us and use your skills, knowledge, passion and energy to help us achieve a future free from arthritis.
Are you passionate about improving the lives of children, young people and their families? 

Are you experienced in creating inspiring programmes and offering life-changing one-to-one support? 

Are you committed to putting children and young people at the heart of decision-making?

About the role
We are looking for a dynamic, creative, innovative team player to join our Young People and Families Service.This role will be based in the North West, as a homeworker, but will also support service delivery across the UK.

As a Young People and Families Worker you will work with colleagues, partners, healthcare professionals, schools, volunteers, and - most importantly - young people and families to co-plan, deliver and evaluate a high quality, holistic support offer locally and nationally. 

You will help young people living with arthritis to build their confidence, make friends, and achieve their personal goals.This will be achieved by providing one-to-one support, linking young people and families to a community of peer support, and working with volunteers to co-deliver self-management activities.

You will also co-design an exciting programme of online and in-person events, youth voice opportunities, and digital content. You will act as the bridge between young people, their families and professionals - especially in healthcare settings where you will play a unique role working collaboratively with multidisciplinary team partners to meet a range of needs. You will support young people during the pivotal transition from paediatric to adult services, making sure it is a time of empowerment and growth. 

About you
If your knowledge, skills and experience include the following then we would love to hear from you:

• Experience of working with the third sector, preferably within the fields of youth/community development work and/or health and social care, with a passion for improving the lives of both children and young people as well as their families. 
• Experience of delivering interventions to people living with long term conditions, understanding the importance of self-management.
• Experience of taking a person-centered approach when providing support. 
• Experience of using a community development/youth work approach to co-design and deliver a quality service /project that is inclusive, inspiring and makes a difference.Engaging colleagues, funders, supporters and partners to make it happen. 
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and safe working policies and procedures.

Kentown Family Support Worker

Maternity Cover up to 12 months

£24,000 pa + Company Car (with an approx. retail value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8K) and other excellent benefits

To Cover Kentown and East Lancashire

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

We are looking to appoint a Family Support Worker for a fixed term period of up to 12 months, on a full-time basis (35 hours, 5 days per week) to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our Kentown Team to families in the local area, at a time where they need it most.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the Kentown Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness. You will enjoy responsibility for managing your own schedule, remaining flexible to the needs of the families on your caseload.

Having worked in a demanding and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care.

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly.

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines.

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator, you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people, and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We are proud to be a Best Companies Two-Star rated organisation, an outstanding place to work! As a Top 10 Charity, we have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

• Control over your own schedule, based on the needs of families on your caseload, to balance home and working life

• Company car for front line care posts (car P11D value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8k)

• Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%

• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)

• The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping

• Time off in Lieu

• Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year

• Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand

• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts

• Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes

• A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme

• Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth.

If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, please visit our why work with us page on our website.

More information about us and our recruitment process can be found in our Candidate Pack on our website.

Development opportunities:

As part of our learning and development Anne Harris Skills Development Programme, we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be their best and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Workers are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, counselling skills, and Introduction to Play.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs, with all family support workers having a foundation level of skills within their first year.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of their time together, providing expert practical and emotional support where they need, it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

To apply please visit our website via the link and apply online.

Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Additional information:

Interviews will take place via Teams or in person with a date to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate the team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are a Best Companies One-Star rated organisation.

Family Support Worker

£24,000 pa + Company Car (with an approx. retail value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8K) and other excellent benefits

South West Team - Bristol and surrounding areas

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

This Best Companies Top 100 mid-sized organisation and Top 20 Charity is looking to appoint a Family Support Worker on a full-time basis (35 hours, 5 days per week) to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our South West Care Team to families in the local area, at a time where they need it most.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the South West Care Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness. You will enjoy responsibility for managing your own schedule, remaining flexible to the needs of the families on your caseload.

Having worked in a stressful and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact.

Location:

This post will cover the South West of England, with this position focusing on Bristol and the surrounding area.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care.

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly.

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines.

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator, you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people, and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We are proud to be a Best Companies Two-Star rated organisation, an outstanding place to work! As a Top 10 Charity, we have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

· Control over your own schedule, based on the needs of families on your caseload, to balance home and working life

· Company car for front line care posts (car P11D value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8k)

· Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%

· 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)

· The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping

· Time off in Lieu

· Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year

· Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand

· Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts

· Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes

· A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme

· Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth.

If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, please visit our why work with us page on our website.

More information about us and our recruitment process can be found in our Candidate Pack on our website.

Development opportunities:

As part of our learning and development Anne Harris Skills Development Programme, and development programme we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be the best they can be, and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Workers are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, counselling skills, and Introduction to Play.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs, with all family support workers having a foundation level of skills within their first year.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

To apply please visit our website via the link.

Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Additional information:

Interviews will take place at our South West Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate the team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and a Best Companies One-Star rated organisation. Registered Charity No: 1070532

We are currently looking for a full-time Social Prescriber / Link Worker
£31,713 pa (for 37.5 hours per week)

Fixed-term until March 2027-Possible extension
 

About Age UK Lambeth

We support older people in Lambeth to live enriched, productive and purposeful lives: challenging the stigma of ageing, reducing social isolation and ensuring they get the right support at the right time. We are kind, person-centred and outcome-focused - finding solutions that work by listening, being flexible and including older people in delivering services. 

What you’ll be doing? 

You will be part of the MYcommunity Linkworkers team. You’ll be responsible for:

• Provide personalised brief intervention and social prescribing support to individuals, their families and carers.

• Meet clients on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate and allowing clients the time and space to discuss ‘what matters to me’.

• Provide person-centred support to enable clients to identify their health and wellbeing needs and goals. Co-produce support plans with clients to discuss what’s important, where they would like to be in the future and how we can support them to achieve this. 

• Manage and prioritise a caseload to ensure clients' needs, priorities and urgent support are met.

• MYcommunity Lambeth works in partnership with a large number of statutory and community services and organisations across the borough. You will link clients with appropriate services to meet their needs. It is vital to have a strong understanding of when it is necessary to refer someone back to health care professionals/ agencies when the client’s needs are beyond the scope of the MYcommunity team.

What you need to bring

Essential criteria:

• Previous social prescribing experience.

• Able to write compelling communications to advocate for your clients. 

• Able to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Able to analyse data and create engaging reports.

Desirable criteria:

• Previous experience working in/or in partnership with the NHS.

What you’ll benefit from

• Generous pension provision - 7% employer contribution

• 26 days holiday a year rising to 31 days after 5 years

• A great staff culture with kindness at its heart

Location: Royal Victoria Infirmary/Freeman Hospital Newcastle 

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Social Worker to join our Newcastle Team supporting children and young people diagnosed with cancer.

We pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality support tailored to the needs of the children and young people and their families. The work we do is rewarding but also complex and demanding. You will be part of a close-knit Young Lives vs Cancer social work team, working with an established NHS multi-disciplinary team and services in the community.

This role is predominantly site-based with an element of occasional working from home as agreed with the line manager. Your contractual base will be both Home and Hospital.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

About you

You will be committed to delivering high quality social work support to promote the best outcomes for the children, young people and families we work with. You will need to be resourceful and resilient. You will have a positive attitude and be willing to embrace difference. As part of the wider Young Lives vs Cancer team you will actively engage with the work of the charity and welcome opportunities to get involved.

You will have:

• A recognised Social Worker qualification and current registration with Social Work England/ Scottish Social Services Council/Social Care Wales/Northern Ireland Social Care Council
• Experience working with children, young people and their families/carers in a social care setting.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment, ideally in an NHS setting.
• Sound knowledge of child and young people development.
• An understanding of the impact of serious illness for children, young people and their families.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

To arrange an informal chat, please contact Chris Hodge. 

#ShowTheSalary

Closing date: 12th July 2026, 11:59 PM
Interview date: 16th July 2026

Family Support Worker – Thames Valley

£24,000 pa + Company Car (with an approx. retail value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8K) and other excellent benefits

Thames Valley and surrounding areas.

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

We are looking to appoint a Family Support Worker on a full-time basis (35 hours, 5 days per week) to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our Thames Valley Care Team to families in the local area, at a time where they need it most.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the Thames Valley Care Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness. You will enjoy responsibility for managing your own schedule, remaining flexible to the needs of the families on your caseload.

Having worked in a stressful and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact.

This role covers Thames Valley and surrounding areas. The role does require travel, however you have the freedom to plan your own diary around the demands of both the families you are working with, your team, and also any personal appointments you may need to attend.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator - you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We are proud to be a Best Companies Two-Star rated organisation, an outstanding place to work! As a Top 10 Charity, we have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

• Control over your own schedule, based on the needs of families on your caseload, to balance home and working life

• Company car for front line care posts (car P11D value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8k)

• Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%

• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)

• The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping

• Time off in Lieu

• Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year

• Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand

• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts

• Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes

• A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme

• Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth.

If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, please visit our why work with us page on our website.

More information about us and our recruitment process can be found in our Candidate Pack on our website.

Development opportunities:

As part of our learning and development Anne Harris Skills Development Programme, we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be their best and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

As part of our learning and development Anne Harris Skills Development Programme, we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be their best and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Teams are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, introduction to play, drawing and talking training.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

Please visit our website and apply online.

Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Additional information:

Interviews will take place at our Thames Valley Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Qualified Play Therapist

Location: South Hampshire Women’s Refuge, Southampton

Salary: £15,806 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Part Time (20 hours per week)

Make a real difference to the lives of children and young people affected by domestic abuse.
At Stonewater, we believe every child deserves a safe space to heal and thrive. We’re looking for a compassionate, creative and qualified Play Therapist (known internally as Play Therapy Worker) to join our Domestic Abuse Services team. This is a unique opportunity to use your skills to empower children and young people through therapeutic play and person-centred support.

What you’ll do

• Deliver age-appropriate, strengths-based play therapy to children and young people living in our refuge accommodation.
• Use a variety of creative techniques – from storytelling and art to music and role play – to help themselves and build resilience.
• Work with the children, young people and families development workers to create individual support plans and work closely with parents to create safe, nurturing environments.
• Collaborate with multi-agency partners and contribute to safeguarding best practice.
• Play a key role in shaping our children and family support programme.

What we’re looking for

• A recognised Play Therapy qualification and registration with a relevant professional body (e.g., UKCP, BACP, BAPT).
• Experience delivering outcomes-focused therapy to children and young people.
• Strong understanding of child development, attachment theory, and the impact of domestic abuse.
• Ability to work creatively, flexibly, and in a non-judgemental way.
• Excellent communication and partnership skills.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today and help us create safe, supportive spaces where children and young people can flourish.

**This post is restricted to female applicants only under the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1. The role is based within a female-only domestic abuse refuge, where the provision of services requires a female worker to ensure the privacy, dignity, and safety of residents.

Discover Stonewater:

Stonewater have 20+ years’ experience delivering refuge, safe accommodation and community based domestic abuse services. Our services include Women and Children’s Refuges, LGBTQ+ Safe Space, a South Asian Women’s Refuge and dispersed accommodation to support those that are unable to access traditional Refuges such as male survivors, those with pets and those facing multiple and complex disadvantage. Our dispersed model of safe accommodation ensures equal access for all.

Stonewater is a leading housing provider. We manage around 40,000 homes, serving 93,000 survivors across our portfolio of affordable properties for general rent, shared ownership and sale, alongside specialist accommodation, with an ambitious house-building programme.

Our mission is to provide quality homes and services for people whose needs are not met by the open market.

We’re looking for like-minded people to join our team of over 800 talented colleagues who embody our values of being ethical, ambitious, passionate, agile and commercial, as well as people who want to make a difference and transform people’s lives.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and working towards accreditation for becoming a Disability Confident Leader, which allows us to record and report on disability, mental health and wellbeing in the workplace to better support our colleagues. We have also achieved accreditation for being an Advanced Employer for Investing in Ethnicity Maturity Matrix. We are committed to being a Menopause Friendly employer and working towards accreditation our Menopause Friendly accreditation.

Stonewater reserve the right to bring the closing date forward should enough quality applications be received prior to the current closing date.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Stonewater, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.

Please be aware that we are unable to offer sponsorship to candidates who are not already sponsoeed by Milestones Trust. 

Make a real difference. Help people live their best life 

Our goal is simple: to support people with enduring mental health needs to live fulfilling, independent lives in their community. Whether it’s learning new skills, building confidence, accessing education, or gaining employment, we work alongside individuals to maximise their choice, independence, and involvement. 

About the Role

We are looking for compassionate and motivated Mental Health Support Workers to join our services across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

In this role, you will provide high-quality, person-centred and trauma-informed support to people with mental health needs, helping them to build independence, develop coping strategies and achieve their personal recovery goals.

You will work both independently and as part of a team to deliver safe, effective, and recovery-focused care that promotes wellbeing, inclusion, and choice. 

What We Offer

• Flexible shift patterns tailored around the needs of the people we support
• Opportunities for both part-time and full-time hours
• A supportive team environment
• Ongoing training and development 

Note: The role includes some evenings, weekends, and lone working, so confidence, initiative, and self-motivation are essential. 

Additionally, while being a driver is not an essential requirement, it could be an advantage in some roles/services. 

Key Responsibilities

• Support individuals to manage their mental health and work towards personal goals
• Deliver person-centred, trauma-informed support tailored to individual needs
• Empower individuals to make everyday choices and key life decisions
• Promote independence, wellbeing, confidence, and personal growth
• Assist with daily living skills including self-care, budgeting, and maintaining a home
• Encourage and support meaningful relationships and social inclusion within the community
• Monitor wellbeing and respond appropriately to changes, risks, or challenging situations
• Develop, follow, and contribute to person-centred support plans and risk assessments
• Maintain accurate records and documentation
• Work collaboratively with families, colleagues, and other professionals
• Safely support and administer medication in line with training and policy
• Complete required training and adhere to organisational standards

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Communicates with empathy, clarity, and emotional intelligence
• Demonstrates compassion, kindness, and understanding
• Is resilient, calm under pressure, and able to respond to challenging situations
• Builds positive relationships and works effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Is organised, reliable, and able to manage workload effectively
• Is self-motivated and proactive in their approach to work
• Is committed to safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Is confident using IT systems and recording information accurately
• Is eager to learn, grow, and adapt within the role
• Holds GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent), or is willing to achieve them
• Work or voluntary experience supporting people in care and/or with mental health needs 

Our Services

We are recruiting across several mental health services: 

The Recovery Hub
A 24-hour residential service supporting adults within a 10-bed unit. We provide a safe, structured, and person-centred environment, helping individuals build skills, manage their mental health, and move towards independent living. 

Chestnut Road
Supporting individuals in shared accommodation or their own flats, this service focuses on recovery, independence, and preparing people to move on, using a highly person-centred and creative approach. 

Charnhill Crescent & Kingsway
Two small services supporting five adults, delivering tailored support to empower people to live independently and achieve their goals. 

In return we offer excellent, high quality learning opportunities, including the opportunity to undertake a level 3 or 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care. Alongside this, other benefits include:

• 30 days’ annual leave, including recognised public holidays
• Learning and development to support your career growth
• Nationally recognised qualifications, from entry‑level care to management
• Flexible working, with rotas provided in advance
• Occupational Sick Pay after two years, increasing with service
• Health Cash Plan after probation, offering at least £695 cashback for health treatments (dental, optical, therapies, maternity/paternity, prescriptions)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Free enhanced DBS check
• Dayforce Wallet, giving you access to your earnings before payday
• Employee referral scheme with financial rewards
• Employee Assistance Programme from day one, offering confidential 24/7 support
• Company pension scheme to help grow your retirement savings

We pride ourselves with being able to offer staff opportunities to develop and progress their careers within the Trust. 

Apply Today

If you're passionate about supporting people and want to be part of a service that truly makes a difference, we’d love to hear from you. 

Please note:

Due to an internal redeployment process, priority will be given to at risk staff.

We have attached a generic job profile for support workers. We are currently reviewing the Mental Health specific support worker job profile, and this will be shared with applicants once finalised.

At Barnardo's, our purpose is to transform the lives of the UK's most vulnerable children and our vision is to realise Thomas Barnardo's dream of a world where no child is turned away from the help that they need.

Who are the Achieving Change Together Service?

The Barnardo's Achieving Change Together Service provides an empowering holistic model of support for disabled children and their families, who live in Blaenau Gwent.

Service Aims

• For parents / carers to feel more confident and equipped to meet the needs of their children.

• For parents / carers to support their child/children to reach their full potential.
• To work in partnership with other services and organisations in order to provide a holistic plan of support for the family.

• Facilitate group work to promote skills development, confidence and independence.
• To support and enable disabled children and their families to access mainstream, specialist and community resources that meets their needs.

What does the Job Role involve? 

As a Project Worker (PW1), your duties will include:

• Utilising effective communication skills to engage children and families to build collaborative relationships.
• Supporting children and families to identify strengths and prioritise support needs.
• Planning, facilitating and evaluating groupwork programmes and one to one support.
• Maintaining accurate recordings.
• Celebrating achievements / successes.
• Establishing, developing and maintaining productive working relationships with colleagues and other agencies.

You will have: 

• Experience of working with children and their families.
• Experience of undertaking assessments with children and families to co-produce holistic support plans.
• Experience of planning, facilitating and evaluating group programmes.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding.
• Ability to prioritise, organise, self-motivate and work on own initiative.
• Experience of partnership working with a range of voluntary and statutory agencies.

Additional Information:

Please include as much relevant detail in your application to demonstrate how you fulfil the requirements of our job role, as outlined above and in the Job Description/Personal Specification.Experience can be from previous employment, education, training, volunteering etc. 

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date.  We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible

Family Support Coordinator

We are looking for a skilled and motivated male Family Support Coordinator to deliver targeted, high-quality support to fathers and male caregivers across Stroud and Gloucester.

This is an opportunity to join a supportive and purpose-driven team where your work will make a direct difference to families across Gloucestershire.

Please note that due to the nature of this role, we can only accept male applicants.

Position: Male Family Support Coordinator (Dad Matters)

Location: Stroud and Gloucester/Hybrid (covering hospital, family hub and community settings)

Hours: Part-time, 33 hours per week

Salary: £32,597 pro rata (£29,337 actual)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 8th July 2026. This job opportunity may close early if we find an appropriate candidate before the closing date.

Join a local charity supporting families with young children through home visiting, group work, one-to-one support and targeted projects. 

The Role

Dad Matters Gloucestershire is part of the wider family support offer. It focuses on improving the wellbeing, confidence and engagement of fathers and male caregivers, particularly during pregnancy, early parenthood and times of family stress or transition.

This role will focus on engaging fathers who may be less likely to access traditional services, including through outreach, hospital-based engagement, family hub delivery, one-to-one support and home visiting. You will build and manage a targeted caseload aligned to family hubs and areas of highest need and bring specialist knowledge of father engagement whilst contributing to the ongoing development of Dad Matters practice across the organisation.

This role requires flexibility, including regular out-of-hours work, to ensure fathers can access support at times and in places that work for them.

Key accountabilities include:

• Deliver high-quality, targeted support to fathers and male caregivers
• Lead outreach and engagement activity with fathers and underrepresented groups
• Act as a specialist in father engagement within the wider family support team
• Contribute to the effective delivery and development of Dad Matters across the locality
• Work in partnership with local services to strengthen support for fathers and families

About You

We are looking for someone who understands the importance of supporting fathers and male caregivers, and who can build trust with people who may be unsure about asking for help. You will be confident working with families, able to manage a caseload, and comfortable delivering support in a range of settings including hospitals, family hubs, homes and community spaces.

You will need to be flexible, relational and practical, with the ability to work some evenings or weekends to reach fathers at the right time.

You will bring:

• Experience of working with families, fathers, parents or caregivers
• Experience of providing outreach support to families or individuals
• An understanding of the challenges families can face during pregnancy, early parenthood and family life
• Strong relationship-building skills
• Confidence in outreach, engagement and partnership working
• Good safeguarding awareness
• The ability to keep accurate records and manage a caseload
• A commitment to inclusive, non-judgemental and strengths-based support

Please note this role is only open to male applicants. Our client is committed to equality of opportunity and encourage applications from all sectors of the community. In light of the nature of work, the candidate’s gender is considered to be an occupational requirement in accordance with Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010.

About the Organisation

Join a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families with at least one child under five years of age. Trained home-visiting volunteers offer regular friendship, emotional, and practical support to help families experiencing a challenging time in their lives. The service is unique and also offers free support peer groups, antenatal, postnatal, and perinatal mental health services.

You may also have experience in areas such as Family Support Worker, Family Support Officer, Parent Support, Family Case Worker, Parent Case Worker, Family Outreach Worker.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

Antenatal Family Support Coordinator

Do you have midwifery experience, antenatal education experience or professional knowledge of pregnancy, birth preparation and early parenthood?

We are looking for a Family Support Coordinator to support families from pregnancy through the early years.

This is an opportunity to join a supportive and purpose-driven team where your work will make a direct difference to families across Gloucestershire.

Position: Antenatal Family Support Coordinator

Location: Stroud & Gloucester /Hybrid (covering office, family hubs and community sessions)

Hours: Part-time, 26 hours per week

Salary: £32,597 pro rata (£22,818 actual)

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 8th July 2026. This job opportunity may close early if we find an appropriate candidate before the closing date.

The Role

You will deliver the core support offer, including home visiting, 1:1 support, group work and volunteer-supported family support. You will also lead delivery of the Bump antenatal programme, helping expectant parents prepare for birth, early parenthood and the transition to family life.

In this role, you will:

• Support families during pregnancy, early parenthood and the early years
• Provide practical, emotional and educational support to expectant parents
• Help parents prepare for birth, baby care and the transition to parenthood
• Support early attachment, bonding, infant development and parental confidence
• Manage a caseload of families with different levels of need
• Work with and support trained Home-Start volunteers
• Help colleagues with pregnancy-related queries and appropriate signposting
• Support inclusive engagement with mothers, fathers, partners and co-parents
• Work with local services, family hubs and community partners

This is a non-clinical role. You will not be providing medical advice or clinical care, but you will use your knowledge and experience to support parents, strengthen early family relationships, and help the team respond confidently to pregnancy-related needs.

About You

We are looking for someone who understands pregnancy, birth preparation, early parenthood and the emotional realities of becoming a parent.

You may have worked as a midwife, maternity support worker, antenatal educator, early year’s practitioner, family support worker, health-related practitioner, or in another relevant role supporting families during pregnancy and the early years.

You will bring:

• Experience or strong knowledge of antenatal support, pregnancy and early parenthood
• Confidence delivering group sessions or antenatal education
• Good understanding of early attachment, infant development and postnatal adjustment
• Awareness of perinatal mental health and the impact of trauma, stress and isolation
• Experience supporting families during pregnancy, birth preparation or early parenthood
• Experience delivering group-based support, education or facilitation
• Good understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries

This is a non-clinical family support role. You will not provide medical advice, diagnosis, clinical maternity care or infant feeding clinical support. Where families need specialist health, maternity, mental health or safeguarding support, the postholder will follow procedures and signpost or escalate appropriately.

On offer:

• A supportive and values-led working environment
• Meaningful work with families at an important stage of life
• Reflective supervision and team support
• Opportunities for training and professional development
• The chance to shape and strengthen the antenatal and early years support offer

About the Organisation

Join a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families with at least one child under five years of age. Trained home-visiting volunteers offer regular friendship, emotional, and practical support to help families experiencing a challenging time in their lives. The service is unique and also offers free support peer groups, antenatal, postnatal, and perinatal mental health services.

The role will require an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. The charity is committed to equality, diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and lived experience, particularly those who reflect the communities we work alongside.

You may also have experience in areas such as Midwife, Maternity Support Worker, Antennal, Antenatal Support, Early Years, Early Years Practitioner, Family Support Worker, Health, Clinical, Baby, Infant, Nurse, Nursery Nurse.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

Contract:Permanent, full time

Salary:£38,177 – £45,000 per annum

Location:Hybrid working with a base in Burford, Newport or Manchester

Closing date:  Sunday 12 July 2026 

First stage interview:Wednesday 22 July 2026

Second stage interview: Thursday 30 July 2026 

Do you have a passion for creating engaging digital learning experiences that make a real difference? Are you confident using learning technologies to bring content to life and improve how people learn at work? If so, this could be the role for you.

We’re looking for a Learning & Development Specialist (Digital) to join our People & People Services team. This is a key role shaping and delivering our digital learning offer, helping ensure colleagues across Blue Cross have access to high quality, accessible and impactful learning.

This is a single role that can be based at either our Burford, Radcliffe or Newport site, with hybrid working in place. 

More about the role

You will lead the design and delivery of digital learning solutions across the organisation, creating engaging content that supports a blended learning approach. Working closely with stakeholders and subject matter experts, you will translate learning needs into effective digital experiences that support organisational priorities.

You will also take ownership of our learning platform (currently SAP Litmos), ensuring it is well managed, user friendly and continues to evolve to meet the needs of our colleagues. Alongside this, you will use data and insight to evaluate learning effectiveness and continuously improve our digital learning offer.

This role can be based at Burford, Newport or Manchester, with hybrid working in place. 

What you will be doing

• Designing and delivering digital learning solutions from initial concept through to evaluation
• Creating engaging e-learning and digital content using modern instructional design approaches
• Partnering with subject matter experts to develop effective learning solutions
• Managing and developing our learning platform to ensure a great user experience
• Maintaining and evolving the digital learning catalogue, ensuring content is relevant and up to date
• Using data, feedback and insight to measure effectiveness and drive continuous improvement
• Staying up to date with digital learning trends and identifying opportunities to innovate
• Contributing to wider projects and promoting learning across the organisation

About you

You will be a creative and technically confident digital learning professional, with experience designing and delivering engaging learning solutions. You will be comfortable working with a range of stakeholders and able to translate learning needs into practical, high quality outputs.

You will be organised and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. With strong communication skills, you will build positive relationships and influence others to make the most of digital learning opportunities.

You will also be motivated to keep your knowledge up to date, staying aware of new technologies and approaches that enhance the learner experience.

Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Experience designing and delivering digital learning solutions end to end 
• Strong knowledge of learning technologies and Learning Management Systems 
• Experience using authoring tools such as Articulate 360 or similar 
• Strong instructional design and learning experience design skills 
• Experience working with stakeholders and subject matter experts 
• The ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines 
• Strong communication and problem solving skills 
• The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values

Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Experience working in the charity sector 
• Experience of video editing, multimedia or graphic design 
• Knowledge of tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, HTML, CSS or similar 
• Experience developing content within SAP Litmos or a similar platform 
• Understanding of learning psychology

How to apply 

To apply for this role, please submit your application through our careers site and answer the application questions, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications.

Blue Cross benefits

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today. 

In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are. 

Our generous benefits package includes: 

• Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)  
• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support  
• Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family   
• Health cash plan  
• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme  
• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution   
• Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.  
• Life assurance   
• 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance   
• Enhanced family friendly policies   
• Recognition scheme   
• Annual volunteer days  
• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers 

To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.  

About Blue Cross

If you’d like to learn more about Blue Cross, our mission, and the work we do to support animals and people, take a look at our About Us page