Hand in Hand Partner (also known as a Family Support Worker)

A brand-new role at the heart of our community

"Walking alongside children and families to support them on their sky of opportunity'

Could this be your calling?

We are looking for a warm, determined and deeply empathetic individual to join our school family as our first-ever Hand in Hand Partner. This isn't a typical support role, it's a chance to be a transformative presence in the lives of our most vulnerable children and families, working at the very heart of our new engagement model and whole-school Hand on Heart approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Early Help Assessments & lead professional
• Trauma-informed family & pastoral support
• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
• Attendance monitoring & improvement
• Multi-agency meetings (CIN, CP, EH)
• Parenting programmes & group workshops
• Support for Post Looked After Children
• Home visits & community engagement

What We're Looking For

• NVQ Level 3+ in Childcare, Health & Social Care or Education
• Experience working with children and families in a school, social care, or community setting
• Understanding of safeguarding legislation and KCSIE
• Empathy, resilience and strong relational skills
• Deputy DSL training (or willingness to complete)
• Commitment to trauma-informed practice
• Strong communication and record-keeping skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Our Hand on Heart Values

Relationships First - Connection before correction, always 

Trauma-Informed - Understanding ACEs shapes everything we do 

High Ambition - Every child deserves the very best future - a sky of opportunity 

True Partnership - Hand in hand with families, not just for them

We are committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

•           All unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
•           All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form prior to interview.

Please note that we complete a search of the online profiles of all candidates invited to interview..

An enhanced DBS and qualifications check will be carried out upon appointment of the successful candidate. 

·      We are a trauma-informed school with our own, bespoke ‘Hand on Heart’ approach to managing behaviour and relationships.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.