Project Support Worker

Do you want to make a positive difference for local families at the very start of their parenting journey? 

Close‑Knit Families is looking for a caring, community‑minded colleague to join us as a Project Support Worker for The Village. The Village is a 12‑month pilot in Redcar & Cleveland, offering free, welcoming spaces for parents and babies during pregnancy and the first postnatal year. It focuses on strengthening parent–baby relationships, supporting wellbeing, and promoting positive child development through pre‑birth workshops and stay‑and‑play sessions. 

We’re seeking someone with experience in early years, family support, or community engagement—ideally a parent or carer themselves—who can bring warmth, empathy, and flexibility to the team. If you’re passionate about helping parents and babies thrive, this could be the opportunity for you. 

Learn more about our work on our website and consider whether our mission, vision, values, and approach align with yours. 

Role Summary 

The Project Support Worker will work closely with and be line managed by the Project Lead to deliver The Village pilot project. You will support the delivery of pre‑birth workshops and weekly stay‑and‑play drop‑ins, engaging and supporting parents and babies. Additional hours can be worked flexibly and will include promotion and outreach, monitoring and evaluation, administration, and supporting fundraising activities. 

This is a hands‑on role, ideal for someone with experience in early years practice, community engagement, or family support, who can work flexibly, including some evenings. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Session delivery: Support weekly daytime drop‑ins and co‑deliver three evening sessions per month, including preparing resources, setting up, and packing down. 

• Family engagement: Welcome families, build rapport, facilitate play and activities, provide support, and signpost to local services. 

• Promotion and outreach: Assist with promotional materials, social media updates, and community outreach to recruit participants. 

• Monitoring and evaluation: Collect attendance data, support surveys and feedback, and contribute to case studies and observational notes. 

• Administration: Maintain participant records, manage session resources, and support basic budgeting and ordering. 

• Safeguarding and wellbeing: Follow safeguarding procedures, complete required checks, and help ensure a safe, inclusive environment. 

• Partnership working: Support liaison with Redcar Baptist Church and local services to coordinate referrals and joint activities. 

• Fundraising: Assist Close‑Knit Families with fundraising activities. 

Person Specification 

Essential 

• A desire to support newborn families and an understanding of why this matters. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse families and work well with colleagues and partners. 

• Ability to communicate information in a warm, empathetic, and non‑judgemental way. 

• Awareness of safeguarding and appropriate actions where concerns arise. 

• Reliable, organised, and able to work independently within a small team. 

• Ability to use basic Microsoft software (Word, Excel, Outlook) and work confidently on a computer or laptop. 

• Alignment with our mission, vision, and values. 

• Willingness to attend training, supervision, and reflective practice. 

• Enhanced DBS (transferable or new DBS required). 

Desirable 

• Experience working with parents, babies, early years, or community settings. 

• Lived experience as a parent or carer, or equivalent responsibility for children aged 0–5. 

• Experience in administrative or similar roles. 

• Level 2/GCSE English qualification. 

• Experience with monitoring and evaluation tools or simple survey platforms. 

• Experience with social media or community promotion. 

• Level 3 qualification in a relevant discipline (education, social care, early help, voluntary sector). 

What We Offer 

• A meaningful part‑time role contributing to an innovative pilot supporting families at a key time. 

• A supportive team environment rooted in connection, care, and making change. 

• Ongoing training and supervision. 

• The opportunity to influence a model that could be replicated across Teesside. 

Equal Opportunities 

Close‑Knit Families is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds.