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
Do you have a heart to see positive change in the lives of people who are trying to make a new start in the community after prison or a community sentence, and a genuine belief in their ability to make such changes? Do you have experience of working in the criminal justice environment?
At South West Community Chaplaincy (SWCC) our aim is to provide effective care and community support for people going through the Criminal Justice System, including prison. This includes work such as advocacy, mentoring and holistic support to assist the integration of people with convictions into their communities, within the counties of Devon, Cornwall and western Somerset.
We are looking for a committed and motivated individual who will strengthen our team of Community Chaplains to work with people both in custody and in the community. The key functions of the role are:
o High-quality client-centred, relational mentoring, ensuring that it is trauma informed, solution focused and relevant for those serving, or who have served, custodial or community sentences in order that they would be successfully resettled in their local communities, within the counties of Cornwall, Devon and western Somerset.
o Manage and support volunteer mentors as they support our clients
o To help facilitate and assist faith communities in the peninsula to become more proactive partners with prisons, probation, police, Youth Justice Board and other agencies, in working towards the successful resettlement of people who have convictions.
The post is a permanent part time role.
There is a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) under the Equality Act 2010 for applicants to actively embrace the Christian faith ethos and values of SWCC, and to be able to promote an environment where people of all faiths, and people of none, can work together for the transformation of lives and communities. The successful applicant will have the ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of people, from aged 15 to 80! Flexible Homeworking is possible by agreement. The role entails a significant amount of travel, and some occasional weekend and evening work will be involved.
Bespoke, relational, mentoring for prison leavers, helping them to build a positive, crime-free future, and making our communities safer for all.


About Toynbee Hall
Based in the East End of London since 1884, Toynbee Hall is a charity working alongside people facing poverty, injustice, and inequality to build a fairer East London. We provide vital advice and support, working in partnership to tackle unfairness and ensure everyone has an equal chance to thrive.
We have recently launched a new strategic plan which reinforces that our purpose is to build a fairer future with an end to poverty, injustice and inequality.
We work towards this by:
• Addressing poverty and injustice through advice and support and influencing systemic change.
• Shifting power to people and communities affected by injustice and inequality.
• Collaborating to end poverty and build fairer systems and institutions. What we want to see in the world starts with our community and our organisation.
This means:
• Working together to build a thriving local community where people have the resources they need, feel their voices are heard and are optimistic about the future.
• Being a good employer, where people are treated fairly, feel engaged and empowered, and work together to achieve our shared vision.
• Acknowledging the role Toynbee Hall has historically played in civic society while recognising that our role now is to shift power, to be an effective partner, and to amplify voices that are less likely to be heard.
What we learn from our work in east London we use to inform and influence wider policy – working to influence change in structures, systems and policies.
Department background
The Debt Advice Team at Toynbee Hall provides crucial support to individuals and families struggling with financial burdens. Funded by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), this team delivers expert guidance and practical solutions to help clients manage and reduce their debt.
Scope of Role
The Traineeship will last for 12 months. This role involves gaining practical experience by observing and participating in interviews to understand clients’ financial problems, researching options, and helping clients make informed decisions. The role includes structured classroom-based learning, supervised practice, and mandatory secondments across partner advice agencies in London.
Key Responsibilities
1. Accurate, Effective, and Individually Tailored Advice
Work under supervision to observe and learn how to provide effective debt advice, including interviewing clients, researching options, and empowering clients to make informed decisions.
2. Detailed Case Records
Assist in maintaining detailed case records, ensuring all work meets auditing and quality standards, and meets funder requirements.
3. Training and Development
Complete a structured training programme within the six-month period, covering technical debt advice, client management, and financial regulations. During the initial training period, trainees will be expected to attend intensive classroom-based training and supervised learning activities four to five days per week. Additional training will be based on shadowing, on-site learning, tests, external training courses, etc.
4. Teamwork
Be an active member of the team, identifying opportunities for your development and contributing to collective goals.
5. Travel
Travel across London is required, including attendance at partner organisations, advice sites, and mandatory secondment placements across London boroughs.
Following the initial training period, the role will require a minimum of four days per week working from Toynbee Hall or partner office locations. One additional working day from home may be agreed where there is a suitable home-working environment and this aligns with operational requirements.
6. Other
Undertake additional tasks as delegated by Management.
Person Specification
1. Experience and Skills
- Willingness to work towards obtaining an accredited qualification in debt advice.
- Basic IT and telephone skills, and ability to use an online-based Client Management System (CMS) to deliver advice across multiple channels and maintain case records.
- Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively.
- Ability to work as part of a team and be open to receiving feedback and learning from others.
- Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with all staff members.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Competence in handling sensitive information with discretion and maintaining confidentiality.
- Ability to handle and support vulnerable clients with empathy and sensitivity, ensuring their needs are appropriately addressed.
2. Personal Attributes
- High level of professionalism and integrity.
- Ability to work independently and proactively without supervision.
- Capacity to remain calm and effective under pressure, adopting a “find a solution, no blame” attitude.
- Open-minded, inclusive, and collaborative approach, seeking fresh and alternative perspectives.
- Commitment to empowering others by sharing knowledge and enabling action.
- Strong alignment with Toynbee Hall’s mission, strategy, and values.
- Willingness to participate in training and develop further understanding in areas such as safeguarding.
- Willingness to work from our advice locations to shadow experienced advisors in both face-to-face and call centre settings.
Desirable Criteria
- Previous experience of giving advice (not necessarily debt advice).
- Ability to speak more than one language.
Our Benefits
Annual Leave
- 25 days of annual leave, plus 3 additional days for our Christmas shutdown (on top of bank holidays)
- After 2 years: +3 extra days of leave.
- After 3 years: +1 additional day.
- After 5 years: A total of 30 days annual leave, plus the 3-day Christmas shutdown.
Pension
- Standard Life Pension Scheme – Employer contribution: 4%, Employee contribution: 5%
Additional Perks & Support
- Enhanced Sick Pay for peace of mind during illness
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to support growing families
- Employee Eyecare Vouchers to support your vision health
- Employee Assistance Programme for free, confidential advice and support
- Mental Health First Aid to ensure workplace well-being
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme to help secure your home
- Interest-Free Season Ticket Loan for cost-effective commuting
- Cycle to Work Scheme to promote a healthier, greener way to travel
- Charity Mentoring Network to support professional development and networking
- Westfield Health Cash Plan to cover your healthcare needs specified in the Policy
- Perk Box
- Life Insurance
Since 1884 Toynbee Hall is a charity working alongside people facing poverty, injustice and inequality to build a fairer East London
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.