Jobs

Family Support Worker – Thames Valley

£24,000 pa + Company Car and benefits (including 25 days annual leave, reward scheme and pension)

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 to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our Thames Valley Care Team.

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.

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

· Flexible working hours to balance home and working life

· 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

· Company car for front line care posts

· 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)

· Time off in Lieu

· 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

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

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

· 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

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

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.

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.

The Diocese of Guildford is committed to fostering a culture of safety, transparency, and compassion across its churches, Cathedral, and communities. We believe Safeguarding is a shared responsibility and a vital part of our mission to ensure that every person feels safe, valued and supported in their faith journey. 

We are seeking an experienced safeguarding professional to join our team in a unique role that combines casework experience with audit and learning coordination: 

• As a Safeguarding Advisor you will provide expert advice and casework support across the Diocese, ensuring compliance with legislation, national policy and best practice. 

• As an Audit Coordinator you will lead preparations for the INEQE safeguarding audit in March 2027, embedding learning from previous audits and coordinating the Diocese’s response 

We are looking someone who has: 

• Extensive safeguarding experience in a statutory, voluntary or judicial settings.

• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and risk assessment processes.

• Experience in managing complex safeguarding casework. 

• Experience working with victims, survivors, and perpetrators of abuse. 

• Excellent communication and organisational skills 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for full details of the Safeguarding Advisor (Audit Coordinator) 

Benefits of the role include: 

• Competitive salary within the Charity Sector 

• A 10% non-contributory pension 

• Life assurance provision of 3x annual salary 

• 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays 

• An employee assistance programme 

• Learning and development opportunities 

Ready to Apply? 

Submit your CV along with a detailed supporting statement (cover letter), outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification. The supporting statement is an essential part of the application process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. 

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with our Safer Recruitment Guidelines. 

The Diocese take our responsibility for the safeguarding of children and adults seriously. Our recruitment processes reflect this commitment. 

We take your privacy seriously. To understand how your personal data will be processed during the recruitment process, please read our Candidate Privacy Notice before applying 

We believe that diversity is a strength. We actively welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities, particularly those who identify as female, younger, of a UK Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage, or disabled, as it is essential that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. 

Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date, it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date. 

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic safeguarding specialist to be our Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO) to lead safeguarding across the Diocese. Effectively as Head of Safeguarding, this is a senior leadership role with independent authority of the Diocesan Bishop, responsible for the professional oversight of safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults. 

The Head of Safeguarding provides expert guidance, manages safeguarding concerns and allegations, and ensures the implementation of national safeguarding standards. You will lead a dedicated team, collaborate with senior clergy and external agencies, and ensure that safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of diocesan life. 

Some of the key responsibilities of the role include:  

Culture, leadership, and Capacity 

• Lead the development and implementation of the diocesan safeguarding strategy. 

• Work closely with the Bishop of Guildford, Cathedral Dean, Diocesan Secretary, and senior clergy to promote a culture of safeguarding excellence. 

• Support the Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP), ensuring effective governance and oversight. 

• Oversee diocesan responses to audits, quality assurance, and Safeguarding Practice Reviews. 

Prevention 

• Implement the Church of England’s Safeguarding Code of Practice across the Diocese. 

• Provide expert safeguarding advice to clergy, parishes, and the Cathedral. 

• Ensure safer recruitment practices are followed across all diocesan bodies. 

• Develop and oversee the diocesan safeguarding training plan in line with the Church of England’s Learning and Development Framework. 

• Ensure training is high-quality, legally compliant, and regularly reviewed. 

Recognise, Assess and Manage Risk 

• Lead and coordinate all safeguarding casework within the Diocese, ensuring that work is completed as required by Church of England Managing Safeguarding Allegations Code of Practice, and statutory guidance and legal responsibilities.

• Participate in Case Management Groups, supporting the chair to ensure proper case management and ensure lessons learned are shared with DSAP. 

• Collaborate with senior leaders to report Serious Safeguarding Incidents to the Charity Commission. 

Victims & Survivors 

• Coordinate responses to disclosures of abuse, ensuring timely and compassionate support. 

• Implement the House of Bishops’ policy on responding well to victims and survivors. 

Learning, Supervision and Support 

• Work collaboratively with the National Safeguarding Team and other Church of England Safeguarding Officers, attending national safeguarding events and activities as required. 

• Engage in continual professional development, including ensuring that the requirements of the National Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework for Diocesan Safeguarding Officers are met. 

General 

• Lead and develop the safeguarding team, fostering a culture of collaboration and reflective practice. 

We are looking someone who has: 

• Proven leadership and strategic planning skills. 

• A professional qualification or equivalent experience (e.g., in social care or criminal justice), with current professional registration where applicable.

• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and best practice. 

• Experience of leading/facilitating/influencing organisational culture change to develop good safeguarding practice and healthy safeguarding cultures.

• Experience in managing complex safeguarding casework and risk assessments. 

• Experience working with victims, survivors, and perpetrators of abuse. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively. 

• Familiarity with Church of England safeguarding frameworks and governance structures. 

• Commitment to the values and mission of the Church of England. 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for full details of the Head of Safeguarding 

Benefits of the role include: 

• Competitive salary within the Charity Sector 

• A 10% non-contributory pension 

• Life assurance provision of 3x annual salary 

• 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays 

• An employee assistance programme 

• Learning and development opportunities 

Ready to Apply? 

Submit your CV along with a detailed supporting statement (cover letter), outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification. The supporting statement is an essential part of the application process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. 

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with our Safer Recruitment Guidelines. 

The Diocese take our responsibility for the safeguarding of children and adults seriously. Our recruitment processes reflect this commitment. 

We take your privacy seriously. To understand how your personal data will be processed during the recruitment process, please read our Candidate Privacy Notice before applying 

We believe that diversity is a strength. We actively welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities, particularly those who identify as female, younger, of a UK Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage, or disabled, as it is essential that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. 

Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date, it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.