Senior Family Support Worker
The role of the Senior Family Support Worker (SFSW) is to be a positive role model when working directly with families and Family Support Workers (FSW). Where necessary providing on the job training, mentoring, coaching to support the growth and development of FSW’s. The SFSW will be the Key worker in assisting Tyre Hill House social workers to implement the Family Assessment Plan. The SFSW is responsible for supporting FSW in the planning of day-to-day activities, ensuring FSW have support an oversight whilst on shift. The SFSW will offer support and guidance as and when required to FSW throughout any given shift and when necessary, contact emergency service and the on-call manager. The SFSW will be responsible for attending handovers between shifts, ensuring clear and accurate communication is passed onto staff.
SFSW will complete the day-to-day work with families, observing and assisting with the assessments in order to promote, strengthen and develop parenting skills and to promote the welfare of the child at all times.
The SFSW as part of the staffing team, will be key in creating a supportive and learning environment for the parents whilst ensuring parents can prioritise the safety and welfare needs of their children. Where this is not happening, they will take appropriate steps to safeguard children in line with Tyre Hill House safeguarding procedures.
The role of the SFSW is to encourage, teach and model positive parenting with families. This can include activities such as bathing, feeding, playing and dealing with discipline and behavioural difficulties. This support will be delivered in individual sessions or as part of group work.
The SFSW will, on occasion, provide childcare to enable the parent to attend group and individual sessions.
Key responsibilities
In line with the Family Assessment Plans, provide families with support on every aspect of daily life, health and wellbeing to include basic baby care, feeding and eating, sleeping, budgeting, safety, discipline, routines, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle choices.
To ensure the safety and welfare of children remains central to the assessment/intervention process.
To take the Key Worker role in the development, implementation and monitoring of individual family’s Assessment Plans.
To observe, supervise and record family interaction, child behaviour, parental motivation and parental ability to meet the needs of the child.
To undertake Keywork sessions as directed by the Tyre Hill House Social Worker.
To provide a positive role model to family support workers by sharing experience, learning and knowledge. This will involve being approachable and open to challenge.
To provide day-to-day support and guidance to staff, reporting incidents and concerns to manager, contacting on-call support out of hours and contacting emergency services when and if required.
To mentor, support and coach Family Support Workers to ensure consistent high standards of care and practice are embedded throughout the service.
To develop and maintain good working relationships with parents and other family members and professionals including GPs, health visitors and Local Authority Social Workers.
To ensure that all documentation is completed and is evidence based, providing clear reflection of the circumstances and presenting issues.
To provide a service that empowers care experienced parents to care for their own child with knowledge and confidence, valuing and respecting the strengths, experiences, and background of the families.
To provide structured feedback to parents during and at the end of each session.
To work with parents sensitively and in a non-judgemental manner, using communication skills when challenged.
To adopt a therapeutic PACE approach (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy) and trauma informed principles when working with families and colleagues.
To take the lead and assist in the delivery of group and individual sessions with families.
To plan and prioritise workload within established timeframes, ensuring written records are kept up to date.
Where required, to assist in childcare duties to enable parents to access individual and group sessions.
To accurately, promptly and fully record all relevant data on ClearCare (Tyre Hill House database), in line with policies and procedures, taking into account health & safety and risk management requirements and the legal processes that govern the work of Tyre Hill House.
To maintain and develop up to date relevant skills and knowledge of current legislation and policies. Identify learning and development needs through supervision and appraisals.
To attend and actively make use of supervision and appraisal meetings.
To undertake training as the Registered Manager deems necessary and to complete this training in a diligent manner.
To maintain a safe environment, the fabric of the building, its grounds and equipment complying with health & safety and other legal requirements.
To encourage staff and families to care for their surroundings and make best use of the available resources.
When mentoring or coaching FSW’s, identify potential training needs and areas of development within the probation period.
To use community resources where appropriate.
To understand and comply with statutory and regulatory (Ofsted) specific standards and regulations.
To read and understand Tyre Hill House policies and procedures and ensure their operation within the centre.
To report to the Registered Manager, or other senior person, in the event of awareness of concerns in respect of families or staff.
To represent the company in a professional manner at all times.
How to apply
If interested in applying, please email julie.elias@tyrehillhouse.co.uk and request application pack which includes the application form, job description and person specification.
If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of application, unfortunately on this occasion you have been unsuccessful.
Closing date: Wednesday, 22nd July 2026
You can download the full job description using the download button below.
