Parent support worker jobs in Newcastle

Job purpose

To lead and manage the DadVocates project, a four-year National Lottery-funded programme training volunteer young dads as peer advocates for young fathers in children’s social care proceedings; delivering professional training to social workers; and working towards the embedding of father-inclusive practice across children’s social care teams in five local authorities.

Hours - Full-time (35 hours per week), Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, with some evening and weekend working expected to meet the needs of the project

Location - Hybrid, with travel across the North East required and activity based in Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Gateshead/Newcastle and County Durham

Key responsibilities

1. Project management

•Take day-to-day responsibility for the management and delivery of the DadVocates project across all strands of activity

•Manage the project budget, monitor expenditure and liaise with the CEO and Finance Officer

•Update and maintain NEYDL’s Evaluation Framework with DadVocates-specific indicators and methodologies within the first two months of the project start date

•Ensure the project meets its funder milestones and KPIs, maintaining accurate records of outputs and outcomes

•Produce quarterly progress reports for internal review and contribute to annual funder reports

•Commission and manage the external evaluator for the four-year evaluation

•Identify and escalate risks and challenges to the CEO, recommending solutions

2. Steering Committee

•Chair and manage the project Steering Committee, which meets every two months and comprises young dads, NEYDL frontline staff, the safeguarding lead, social work professionals and academic partners

•Induct Steering Committee members, including young dads, into their roles, providing tailored support to ensure they can contribute confidently alongside professionals

•Use Steering Committee meetings to review progress, identify challenges and agree recommendations for the next period of delivery

3. Co-creating the DadVocate training programme

•Work with training and research providers, young dads and Steering Committee members to co-create a 100-hour peer advocacy training programme for volunteer DadVocates

•Deliver the DadVocate training programme alongside NEYDL staff and delivery partners

•Lead annual reviews of the training programme and update content in response to learning and feedback

4. Managing and supporting volunteer DadVocates

•Recruit and train 10 young dad volunteers per year (40 over four years), all with lived experience of young fatherhood 

•Provide ongoing mentoring, supervision and wellbeing support to all active DadVocate volunteers: at least 50 hours per volunteer per year

•Set clear objectives for each volunteer, conduct regular appraisals and team meetings, and support their professional development and progression

•Recognise that DadVocates are young dads with lived experience rather than professional backgrounds, and provide the high level of structured support this requires, including supporting them to navigate professional environments with confidence

•Support the progression of volunteers into employment, further training and community leadership roles

5. Matching DadVocates with young dads in CSC proceedings

•Build and maintain referral pathways with social services, midwifery, Family Nurse Partnerships, Family Hubs and other local networks across target local authorities

•Match 100 young dads over four years with a volunteer DadVocate (10 in year 1, rising to 40 in year 4)

•Work closely with NEYDL’s Senior Young Dads Workers, who hold cases, to coordinate peer advocacy support within CSC proceedings

•Maintain oversight of active advocacy arrangements, ensuring DadVocates are appropriately supported and that safeguarding obligations are met at all times

•Engage directly with young dad beneficiaries through steering committee meetings, evaluation sessions and project learning events

6. Professional training for social workers

•Co-create professional training content with social workers and young dads on the Steering Committee, drawing on national research and NEYDL’s practice experience

•Deliver half-day induction training to 15-20 social workers per local authority at the outset of each area’s involvement, co-facilitated by young dads or DadVocate volunteers

•Deliver annual refresher training in each local authority

•Facilitate quarterly case review and learning meetings with social workers in each local authority, involving DadVocate volunteers

•Co-design guidance on what father-inclusive practice looks like within children’s social care teams, with social workers and young dads (first version in year 2; updated version in year 4)

•Organise and host two information-sharing events for social care professionals in years 2 and 4 (approximately 100 professionals per event)

7. Monitoring, evaluation and learning

•Coordinate data collection with young dads, DadVocate volunteers and social workers using NEYDL’s evaluation tools and new instruments co-designed for this project

•Produce annual evaluation reports and disseminate learning through NEYDL’s wider networks, events and conferences

•Share learning through stakeholder events, professional networks and NEYDL’s regular sector-facing activity

8. Safeguarding

•Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements are in place for all project activity, particularly for DadVocate volunteers operating within CSC proceedings

•Work closely with NEYDL’s Safeguarding Lead to ensure policies and protocols relevant to the project are current, understood and followed by volunteers and partners

•Act as first point of contact for safeguarding concerns arising within the DadVocates project

9. Collaboration and partnerships

•Work closely with NEYDL’s Senior Young Dads Workers as case holders, ensuring a joined-up and consistent approach to supporting young dads involved in the project

•Build and maintain relationships with academic, statutory and voluntary sector partners

•Work with the Business Development Manager to help secure longer-term Local Authority funding for DadVocates, using evidence of impact from the project to support conversations with Local Authorities and expand the project’s reach beyond the areas and targets in the original funding bid

•Represent NEYDL and the DadVocates project at external meetings, networks and conferences

•Contribute to NEYDL’s wider communications and engagement activity

10. Other

•Deputise for the CEO as required

•Report to the Board of Trustees in person or in writing on a quarterly basis as required

11. Standard clauses

•The post holder must carry out their responsibilities at all times with due regard to NEYDL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, policy and statement, and Safeguarding Policy

•The post holder is responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures relating to health and safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times

•The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means, in line with NEYDL’s Data Protection Policy

•This role requires satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance prior to appointment

•This job description is not exhaustive. NEYDL reserves the right to reasonably add to or revise it at any time in agreement with the post holder.

Are you an experienced practitioner with a passion for empowering young people and making a difference?

At NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), we are dedicated to making a lasting impact on the lives of children, young people, and adults at risk. We believe no child or young person should ever be alone or voiceless in the care system, in family court, or when decisions are being made about their future.

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Senior Practitioner to join Project Unity England, working 28 hours per week. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver intensive, trauma-informed support to care-experienced young mothers who are pregnant or have recently given birth, helping families stay together and supporting young mothers to build positive futures.

About Project Unity England

Project Unity England is an innovative national initiative focused on improving outcomes for care-experienced young mothers and their children through collaborative, multi-agency working. The project aims to keep families together, strengthen service delivery, promote innovation and ensure that local needs are addressed effectively across England.

At the heart of Project Unity is a collaborative approach that brings together local authorities, health partners and community organisations to provide coordinated, community-focused support. By working closely with partner agencies, Project Unity helps ensure young mothers receive the right support at the right time, enabling them to make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcomes for themselves and their children.

About the role

As a Senior Practitioner, you will manage a complex caseload, providing independent, rights-based advocacy and one-to-one support to care-experienced young mothers. Working autonomously while supported by the Project Coordinator, you will empower young mothers to understand their rights, navigate statutory processes and make informed decisions that help keep families safely together.

You will build trust, complete assessments, develop support plans and advocate on their behalf within multi-agency settings. You will work alongside social workers, midwives, health visitors and other professionals to ensure each young mother's voice is heard and represented.

Alongside direct casework, you will contribute to peer support groups, workshops and community-based activities that reduce isolation, build confidence and strengthen parenting skills. You will also play an important role in safeguarding, quality assurance and service development by maintaining high-quality records, producing case studies and identifying opportunities to improve local services.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of care-experienced young mothers while working within an innovative, rights-based national programme.

About you

We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting vulnerable young people and families. You will be confident working independently while building strong partnerships with professionals across health, social care and the voluntary sector.

You will have experience supporting families or parents with complex social care involvement and a sound understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment and relevant legislation. You will be an effective advocate with excellent communication skills, able to build trusting relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.

You will be organised, resilient and confident managing a demanding caseload, with strong analytical skills and the ability to make sound professional judgements in complex situations.

Above all, you will demonstrate NYAS's values of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Empowerment, sharing our commitment to ensuring children, young people and adults at risk have their voices heard.

How to Apply

Please apply via the the NYAS website. In your application, evidence using specific examples how your skills and experience meet the criteria in the person specification within the attached job description, including:

• Experience with vulnerable young people or families in a social care, advocacy or support setting
• Knowledge of legislation and policy relating to advocacy, safeguarding and children’s social care
• Excellent communication, organisational and report-writing skills, with sound professional judgement

Employee Benefits

We offer the following employee benefits:

• 26 days, increasing to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
• Occupational sick pay (subject to completion of qualifying period)
• Enhanced pay for family friendly leave
• Free parking at some of our offices
• Employee assistance programme
• Group stakeholder pension scheme
• Access to BHSF health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Support and supervision from your line manager
• Learning and Development opportunities

Safeguarding and Compliance

NYAS operates robust safeguarding procedures, and internal candidates will be subject to references in line with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. In accordance with UK immigration law, proof of eligibility to work in the United Kingdom will be required as part of the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is an established rights-based charity ensuring that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are respected, represented and supported in expressing their views. We work with care-experienced people who are often reliant on statutory services, and our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure their voices are heard.

We are an equal opportunities employer and a Disability Confident Employer, guaranteeing an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.

Job purpose

To grow DigiDAD's reach and impact by building relationships with professionals who can introduce the platform to young dads; showing those professionals how to use DigiDAD confidently with the young dads they support; and gathering feedback from professionals and young dads that informs ongoing improvement of the platform and NEYDL's outreach approach. This role works closely with the DigiDAD Programme Manager to support DigiDAD's growth, sharing feedback and helping to inform planning around outreach, platform and content development.

Hours - Full-time (35 hours per week), Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, with some evening and weekend working expected to meet the needs of the project

Location - Hybrid, home-based with regular travel to NEYDL’s Gateshead base and professional meetings in the North East, with some national travel

Key responsibilities

1. Professional outreach and relationships

•Build relationships with professionals likely to introduce DigiDAD to the young dads they work with, or to recommend it to colleagues, through networking, invitations to present, and warm referrals

•Work with NEYDL’s Young Dads Workers to identify and follow up on professional contacts they already engage with who may be interested in DigiDAD

•Identify and strategically prioritise the outreach opportunities most likely to lead to new registrations

•Represent DigiDAD at a small number of carefully selected events or conferences each year, where the audience is a strong match for DigiDAD’s goals

2. Onboarding and engagement

•Deliver onboarding sessions and demonstrations to professionals, showing them what DigiDAD offers and how to use it with the young dads they support

•Deliver and/or support regular webinars for current and prospective DigiDAD users, covering both professional and young dad audiences as needed

•Support professionals through the registration and onboarding process, and help them confidently introduce DigiDAD to the young dads they work with 

•Encourage service beneficiaries to engage with DigiDAD content through dissemination of DigiDAD news, updates, and information across our in-house communication channels e.g. WhatsApp groups and DigiDAD Gaming community on Discord

3. Feedback and evaluation

•Hold structured conversations with young dads who use DigiDAD to gather feedback on content, design and user experience

•Gather feedback on outreach materials and messaging, and share insights with the DigiDAD Programme Manager to inform evaluation, reporting and improvements 

4. Working with the Business Development Manager

•Maintain regular contact with NEYDL’s Business Development Manager, including a simple shared tracker to record and follow up leads

•Refer any commissioning or training sales opportunities identified through DigiDAD outreach to the Business Development Manager

•Follow up DigiDAD-interested contacts referred by the Business Development Manager

5. Recording and reporting

•Record outreach activity and registration data accurately and in a timely way, in line with NEYDL’s data management and evaluation systems

•Contribute ideas for campaign activity, content and service development based on direct engagement with users and professionals

6. Standard clauses

•The post holder must carry out their responsibilities at all times with due regard to NEYDL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, policy and statement, and Safeguarding Policy

•The post holder is responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures relating to health and safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times

•The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means, in line with NEYDL’s Data Protection Policy

•This role requires satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance prior to appointment

This job description is not exhaustive. NEYDL reserves the right to reasonably add to or revise it at any time in agreement with the post holder.

Future opportunity: there is potential for this role to develop a training product for professionals on making the best use of DigiDAD. There are no immediate plans for this, but it may form part of the role’s future development.