Family Help Support Workers

Health and Care
Uk
March 5, 2026
£34 - £37 / year
Full Time
Apply Now

Job Description

Family Support Worker – Disabled Children’s Team
City of York Council

  • Salary: Grade 8, Level 1–4 (£34,301 – £37,439 per annum, pro rata)
  • Hours: 18.5 hours per week (part-time)
  • Contract: Permanent
  • Location: Based at a designated City of York Council office, with hybrid working options available (arrangements discussed during recruitment to suit the role and your needs)
  • Category: Children’s Services / Care
  • Reference: CHED005624
  • Posted: 5 March 2026
  • Closing date: Sunday 22 March 2026 (midnight)
  • Interview date: Tuesday 31 March 2026

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of disabled children, young people, and their families? The Disabled Children’s Team at City of York Council is expanding and we’re looking for dedicated Family Help Support Workers to join us in delivering creative, strengths-focused support.

This is a rewarding opportunity to contribute to positive change during an exciting period of transformation. We’re actively embedding our Building Brighter Futures practice model, which draws heavily on the Signs of Safety approach. This evidence-informed framework, developed by Andrew Turnell and colleagues, emphasizes building safety, harnessing family strengths, and fostering trusting relationships to keep children safe and thriving. For more on Signs of Safety, see the UK government’s evaluation of its implementation in children’s services: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/signs-of-safety-practice-in-childrens-services-an-evaluation.

Over the coming months, you’ll benefit from structured implementation support, including ongoing training led by experts such as Andrew and Pene Turnell, plus specialized sessions on Family Seeing with Kevin Campbell. New team members receive comprehensive induction, access to shared resources and knowledge hubs, and the chance to actively shape and advance our practice model as part of a dedicated leadership group.

What the Role Involves

In this role, you’ll provide tailored, innovative support to families caring for children with disabilities and complex needs. Your work will help build parental confidence, resilience, and capacity, often in collaboration with multi-agency partners. Key responsibilities include:

  • Delivering direct, relationship-based interventions to support children subject to Child in Need plans, and sometimes those on Child Protection plans or in local authority care.
  • Using creative tools and techniques to engage with children and young people who have diverse communication needs, including non-verbal methods.
  • Building strong, trusting connections with children, parents, carers, and wider networks to assess well-being, identify risks, and promote safety.
  • Working as part of a supportive multi-agency team to ensure families receive timely, appropriate help grounded in empathy and collaboration.

We are looking for enthusiastic practitioners who are child-centered, adaptable, and motivated to empower families. While experience with disabled children is valuable, it’s not essential—we provide thorough training and ongoing development.

What we Offer

  • A supportive employer committed to staff well-being, with generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of health and reward initiatives.
  • Flexible and hybrid working options tailored to the role.
  • Opportunities for continuous professional growth, community involvement, volunteering, and access to exclusive discounts.

Please note: This role does not offer visa sponsorship, as the Council is not currently licensed for this.

City of York Council is fully committed to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All staff share this responsibility. The successful applicant will need an enhanced DBS check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

As this is a public-facing position, you’ll need to demonstrate fluent spoken English at CEFR Level C1 (fluent and spontaneous expression, with ease on most topics).

For an informal chat or more details, please contact:

  • Emma Smith, Service Manager – emma.smith@york.gov.uk
  • Neelam Drew, Practice Manager – neelam.drew@york.gov.uk

We’d love to hear from creative, compassionate individuals ready to support disabled children and their families in York.

Discover more about working in children’s social care at City of York Council: https://www.york.gov.uk/job-vacancies/working-social-care/3

Apply now and help build brighter futures for children in our community!

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