Senior Family Support Worker - Family Help

Job Introduction

Family Help Service - Senior Family Support Workers

Location: Based in the Family Help Teams either in East or South of the Bradford District.

Salary: S01 SCP23-25 £34,434-£36,363

Introduction:

Bradford Children and Families Trust are looking for talented, innovative, and dedicated permanent Senior Family Support Workers for the Family Help service to drive our services forward and to ensure that our promise to improve the lives of Children and Young People in Bradford becomes a reality. Family Help is part of national reform work within the Families First Programme and seeks to enable change in the way that children and families are supported. This includes families getting the right support by the right person at the right time, reducing transition points and sticking with families when a relationship has been established. The ethos of Family Help is to work in partnership with families to effect positive, long term and sustainable change.

You will have a passion and drive to ensure children are at the heart of all we do. You will practice within a relational and restorative culture of continuous learning and reflective practice within your role.

Are you an experienced practitioner with strong family support or similar experience?

If you’re up for the Challenge and enthusiastic about working intensively with families and about making a difference in the lives of children, then we would love to hear from you!

About us:

Bradford Children and Families Trust was established in April 2023 to enhance the quality and delivery of Children’s Services across the Bradford district. Bradford is a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage and a keen sense of community.

Our purpose is clear and as we continue to grow and evolve, now is the perfect time to join us with our recent Ofsted report acknowledging ‘significant improvements.’ Our senior leadership team is permanent and committed to providing stability and continuity within the organisation. Our approach is rooted in restorative and relational practice, fostering trust, mutual respect and meaningful relationships with children, families, and professionals.

We are looking for skilled individuals to join our Family Help service to strengthen families and help shape the future of young lives. You will be part of a supportive network of professionals dedicated to improving outcomes for children.

About The Role:

To work with and support families who need targeted and intense help. The role engages children and families with complex circumstances so that need can be identified early and addressed with whole family support and planning. The role is in a team that comprises of Senior Family Support Workers and Social Workers as well as colleagues from partner agencies.

Key Responsibilities:

• The is a ‘case holding’ post and not a supervisory role, to work alongside families to complete a comprehensive, holistic, and strengths-based assessment of need and agree appropriate plans for children and families.
• To connect relationally with families to ensure the appropriate participation of children and families in their own assessment, plans, and reviews.
• To provide restorative direct work and support using creative, child, and family friendly approaches to build trust and effective relationships as well as understand the lived experiences of children.
• To engage and work in partnership with other professionals to deliver tailored help and support that makes a positive difference.
• To understand and work within legal frameworks, policies, and procedures appropriate to children and families.
• To work with children and families on a Child in Need basis.
• To be able to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns appropriately.
• To lead timely advice giving, referral and/or duty processes so that children and families are supported at the right level. This may include acting as a first point of contact.
• To lead plans for children and families and co-ordinate multi-agency support and meetings to deliver tailored targeted family help.
• To arrange and chair regular meetings and reviews with the children and family at the heart of the work.
• To maintain comprehensive, accurate and up to date records using electronic systems and equipment.
• To write assessments and reports as required.

About You:

• You will have recent experience of carrying out assessments, planning and direct intervention with children and families in need of help and support.
• Working directly with children, young people, and parents as a unit and individually and recent ‘case holder’ experience is essential.
• NVQ 4 (or equivalent) in Health & Social Care, including knowledge regarding children’s development, or equivalent child related qualification.
Able to
• anti discriminatory practice and approaches in their day-to-day interaction with colleagues, children, and their families to challenge bias, prejudice, and intolerance.
• Able to work with others in the children and young people’s workforce to put the child at the centre of decision making.

You’ll also be joining an organisation that truly values its people, offering a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance, including:

• Generous annual leave - 31 days rising to 34 with service, plus bank holidays
• Excellent Local Government pension
• Family-friendly policies and enhanced parental leave
• Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling
• Professional development and career progression opportunities
• we are a National Living Wage employer

For full details of our benefits, please see the attached ‘Our Benefits’ brochure.

Next Steps:

To arrange a discussion about the role please contact:

Zoë Crosby - Family Help Service Manager on zoe.crosby2@bradfordcft.org.uk

Closing date: 20 September 2026

Interview: 1st October 2026

Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.