Job Description:

Family Support Worker – Children's Social Care

Location: St Helens, Merseyside
Pay Rate: £19.86 per hour (Umbrella)
Service Area: Children's Social Care

We are currently recruiting for an experienced and dedicated Family Support Worker to join the Children's Social Care team in St Helens.

This is an excellent opportunity for a passionate and committed professional to support vulnerable children, young people and families involved in statutory social care services. You will work alongside qualified Social Workers, providing practical support, undertaking assessments, delivering targeted interventions and helping to safeguard children while promoting positive family relationships and improved outcomes.

The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting children with disabilities, undertaking Short Break reviews, supervising Family Time (contact) arrangements and working directly with families to address identified needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of Short Break reviews and undertake assessments of children and young people with disabilities, identifying needs and recommending appropriate support packages.
• Conduct home visits and direct work with children, young people and families to monitor welfare, assess home conditions and promote positive outcomes.
• Work alongside Social Workers to deliver practical family support, targeted interventions and supervised Family Time arrangements.
• Build positive and trusting relationships with children and families, including those who may be reluctant to engage with statutory services.
• Facilitate and supervise Family Time sessions, ensuring children's safety and wellbeing, including working evenings where required.
• Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive case records using Liquidlogic Children's System (LCS).
• Ensure the voice of the child is central to all assessments, care planning, reviews and interventions.
• Demonstrate professional curiosity and identify, respond to and escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately.
• Prepare written reports and contribute to court proceedings, Child Protection Conferences, Looked After Children (LAC) Reviews, Family Action Meetings and EHCP meetings.
• Work collaboratively with Social Workers, schools, health professionals and other partner agencies to coordinate effective support.
• Help children and young people maintain positive relationships with their families, schools, communities and wider support networks.
• Manage competing priorities effectively, ensuring all work is completed within statutory timescales and departmental requirements.
• Work flexibly across St Helens, including early mornings and evenings, in response to the needs of children and families.

Essential Experience and Skills

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous experience working with children, young people and families within Children's Services, social care or a safeguarding environment.
• A good understanding of child protection, safeguarding procedures and statutory children's social care processes.
• Experience undertaking direct work with children and families, including home visits and family support interventions.
• Experience supporting or supervising family contact arrangements.
• Knowledge or experience of undertaking assessments and working with children with disabilities.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage families who may be resistant to support.
• Excellent written skills, including the ability to produce accurate case records and professional reports.
• The ability to recognise safeguarding concerns, demonstrate professional curiosity and take appropriate action.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied caseload and competing demands.
• The ability to work independently and effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Working Arrangements

The role is based in St Helens and requires flexibility to work across different locations and undertake early morning and evening visits or supervised Family Time sessions when required.

You will be expected to work in accordance with relevant legislation, safeguarding procedures, council policies, information governance requirements and professional standards.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is compassionate, resilient, proactive and committed to making a genuine difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families.

You will be confident working in challenging situations, able to build positive relationships with families and demonstrate a child-centred approach that prioritises safeguarding, participation and positive outcomes.

Pay Rate: £19.86 per hour (Umbrella)

Mandatory: must have a UK passport or a full right to work in the UK

If you have the relevant children's social care experience and are passionate about supporting children and families, we would love to hear from you. Apply today!

For more information, contact Shivashni Govender.