Family Support Worker

• Works effectively with families in crisis, managing own and others' anxieties and working within the boundaries of the role.
• Manage casework effectively with children/young people and their families, establishing needs, setting objectives and reviewing progress.
• Engage and work creatively in partnership with children/young people and their families, in order to effect positive and lasting change.
• Work in an empowering way with families, focusing on their collective strengths and resources, e.g. using a solution-focused approach.
• Reflect on own practice and to learn from experience. To take responsibility for own performance and to be proactive in relation to own work and professional development.
• Analyse and interpret complex information and prioritise needs in order to make recommendations/decisions which will have a positive outcome.

• NVQ level 3 Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification, demonstrating that level of ability in working with children / young people and families or relevant experience. Relevant organisational knowledge of systems, procedures and policies associated with operating a client focused service.
• Significant experience of working with children / young people and their families in a crisis situation and using a range of direct work interventions.
• Experience of working in a multi-agency context, demonstrating an awareness of differing roles and responsibilities and effective methods of collaboration.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development and age-appropriate behaviour relevant to the Early Help service.
• Understanding of current childcare legislation and policy.
• Knowledge of Safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Valid and full driving licence and access to a vehicle / ability to travel around the county independently.

For more information on the Key Skills, Qualifications and/or Experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

At West Sussex County Council, we are ambitious for our children and our workforce and are committed to improving our services for children and families in West Sussex. You will join us at a key time in our improvement journey, while we focus on delivering flawless family support and driving forward our 'Children First' improvement plan.

The Early Help Service is an integral part of the Children, Young People and Learning Directorate. We work with children, families, and young people to help ensure that every child is supported to achieve his or her potential. Working collaboratively with social care so that all children and families are accessing the right help and protection from the most appropriate part of children's services.

Early Help ensures that children and families receive accessible and co-ordinated support when they need it. This support ranges across a continuum from universal preventative approaches through to more targeted help where families are experiencing more complex or multiple difficulties. At every level support is designed to address and reduce the problems or challenges and prevent them getting worse.

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.

For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.

Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:

Employer Pension Contribution: 15% (this alters per annum on the 1 April each year)

Annual leave: 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays = 33 days

The reference number for this role is CAFHE06512.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Jonathan Bertram at Jonathan.

For general queries please reach out to our resourcing team at

To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and complete the Application Form.

In your application, please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV.

Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

Safeguarding statement

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, five years referencing, and an occupational health check.

Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application please contact .

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact