Support worker jobs in Devon

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.

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.

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 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

We also have a fantastic learning and development programme - the Anne Harris skills development programme - in which 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.

Interview dates: Interview Dates to be confirmed.

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

Housing First Support Worker – Connect Community Trust (Somerset)
Salary: £27,669.10 per annum (pro rata) 35hrs a week

Are you passionate about walking alongside people as they rebuild their lives? We’re looking for a compassionate and committed Housing First Support Worker to help people move on from homelessness into secure, independent living.

This is a truly person-centred, community-based role where relationships are at the heart of everything. You’ll work with individuals who have often experienced significant trauma and exclusion, offering flexible, long-term support that adapts to their needs. Through patience, consistency, and trust, you’ll support people to maintain their tenancies, improve their wellbeing, and reconnect with their communities.

You’ll hold a small caseload, enabling you to provide meaningful, tailored support – whether that’s helping someone set up their new home, access health and recovery services, manage finances, or simply being a steady, reliable presence in their lives. Working collaboratively with local partners, you’ll play a key role in helping people build a stable and hopeful future.

About you:
You’ll bring experience of working with people facing homelessness, mental health challenges, or other complex needs, alongside a genuine belief that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. You’ll be resilient, empathetic, and able to work both independently and as part of a wider team. Strong communication skills are essential, as is a full driving licence and access to a vehicle, given the rural nature of the role.

For an informal conversation, please contact Suzanne Addicott directly.

Rolling interviews – we encourage early applications.

Join Addiction Family Support

Addiction Family Support is the leading UK-registered charity supporting adults affected or bereaved by a loved one's harmful use of alcohol, drugs, or gambling.

The role: Family Support Worker (Bereavement)

As a Family Support Worker at Addiction Family Support, you will be responsible for delivering a range of services to provide crucial emotional and practical assistance to individuals bereaved (and affected) by the loss of a loved one due to addiction. Through both individual and group support, you will offer a compassionate and understanding presence, helping people navigate grief and loss in a safe and supportive environment.

Our service delivery takes place via several methods, including taking calls on our telephone Helpline, responding to emails through our email service and delivering remote 5-Step Method informed intervention to individuals and groups via an online platform.

Working patterns are flexible and you may be expected to work on a rota basis, and we would hope to be able to offer more hours per week in time when funding allows it.

You will need to be confident in your ability to provide support via a variety of remote and digital platforms, being able to respond to immediate requests for support. You will be an active and involved member of our team and contribute to all aspects of our work to help us achieve our strategic goals and work towards achieving our vision.

Responsibilities:

• Offer empathetic and non-judgmental structured emotional and practical support to those affected by the bereavement of a loved one due to addiction (via a Helpline and 5-Step Method informed one to one and group support).
• Provide or signpost information, literature, and resources to help individuals and groups manage grief and cope with their situations.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate bereavement support group meetings, creating a safe space for participants to share their experiences and provide mutual support.
• Follow guidelines and safeguarding practices - ensuring safeguarding concerns are addressed promptly and signpost individuals to additional services where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with GDPR and the charity’s policies. 

Ongoing support

As a Family Support Worker (Bereavement), you will have access to regular supervision and peer support, ensuring you feel confident and equipped in your role. Development opportunities are available to help you grow in your position and enhance the support you provide. 

 Join our team of change-makers

Are you ready to make a difference? We're on the lookout for a vibrant, enthusiastic, proactive and collaborative individual with the right skills and experience to become part of our incredible charity.

Be part of something special

Our clients' continuous positive feedback speaks volumes about the impact of our work, and we take immense pride in it. Emilia Fox, one of our dedicated Patrons, stands with us in our mission.

Join an award-winning journey

This is your chance to become part of an award-winning charity where every day is an opportunity to contribute to the greater good. If you're seeking a dynamic environment filled with compassionate individuals dedicated to creating positive change, we invite you to apply or reach out with any enquiries.

The deadline for submitting applications is 5.00pm on Friday 29 May 2026.

Interviews will be held w/c 8 June 2026.