Family Support Worker

Job Description

Two Family Support Workers

Hours per week: Part-time

supporting 24/7 support

across the team (open to

discussion of cross team

working and/or number of

hours)

Contract type: Temporary until 31 Jan 2027

 Location: West Dunbartonshire, Argyll + Bute

Includem are supporting the development and delivery of the Bairns' Hoose across West
Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute. The Bairns Hoose is a national programme enhancing how child
protection services are delivered across Scotland. The vision of Bairns’ Hoose in Scotland is for all
children who have been victims of or witnesses to abuse or violence, as well children under the age
of criminal responsibility who may have caused harm or abuse, to have access to trauma informed
recovery, support and justice.  More information on the Bairns’ Hoose can be found at
bairnshoosescotland.com

Reports to: Team Manager (Stuart Anderson)

Line Management Responsibility: No

West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute have jointly commissioned includem to provide whole family
support services aligned to the Bairns Hoose project, providing a responsive Service across a
significant geographical area, supporting children or young people aged 0-18, who are
assessed as requiring Bairn’s Hoose service and will be supported by includem’s 24/7 Helpline.

Financial Accountability: Low

Job Summary

Our Family Support Workers are contracted to be available to provide essential Whole Family
Support from 0800hrs to 2200hrs, five days over seven across West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute
and will support the includem 24hr helpline.

Family Support Workers will lead the provision of relationship-based support delivered to young people

and  families  in  the  community  and  to  promote  positive  outcomes  in  line  with  the  values  and

principles of includem.

The appointed workers will manage their own caseload ensuring support plans are developed

with the young person to respond to their individual needs and support them to improve

outcomes in line with GIRFEC principles and includem’s model of support.

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The Family Support Worker will be expected to actively demonstrate leadership and ownership over

effective service delivery to young people and families, by managing outcomes through the use of

line managers, colleagues, and organisational tools, processes, policies, and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Family Support Worker include, but are not limited to:

Service Delivery

•  To build relationships and deliver outcome-based support to young people and families,

involving all key stakeholders.

•  To be available for young people and families at critical times.

•  To explore values and attitudes with young people in a supportive manner, to affirm and

validate their feelings and ideas, and nurture and confirm their learning.

•  To ensure a focus on regular and appropriate case progression to help young people and

families recognise progress.

•  To assess and respond appropriately to situations where young people and/or families may

be at risk of harm.

•  To actively participate in the delivery of the Includem Helpline service so support is

available for young people and families 24/7.

•  To support with crisis management and generate solutions for young people and families
using the Helpline, with risk enablement being at the heart of professional judgement and
decision making.

People

•  To understand the different coping mechanisms that young people and their families use to

deal with stress and high emotions, and to respond appropriately.

•  To demonstrate professional resilience when providing support with sensitive or challenging

issues.

•  To use a strengths-based approach to empower individuals facing adversity to find solutions
and make positive changes, ensuring resources are in place to sustain these changes.

•  To establish mutually trusting, open and non-judgemental relationship with young people

and their families.

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•  To encourage and lead collaborative team work to provide a ‘scaffolding of support’ around

each young person and their family whilst developing relationships with wider community
resources.

•  Offer support to young people within their own communities and support them to access

resources locally.

•  To respect and value the contribution of wider stakeholders and the delivery of Includem

services.

•  Any other duties as designated by your line manager.

Influence

•  To build relationships with Local Authorities with varying demands and priorities.
•  To ensure young people and families are empowered to make informed choices.
•  To support young people and families to effectively communicate with others.
•  To work with young people to identify goals aligned to wellbeing indicators and to positively

influence progression towards these goals.

•  To reflect on practice, share learning and promote continuous practice improvement within

a team setting.

•  To articulate and endorse the Includem framework of intervention and the key aspects of

the service delivery model to a wide audience.

•  To role model appropriate practice standards and professional boundaries to others.
•  To ensure a high-quality service is delivered to young people and families.
•  Demonstrate understanding of your impact on people and how they might see you.
•  To develop partnership working within communities.

Resources

•  To plan time effectively to meet the needs of young people and families to ensure the

service is available 24/7, 365 days per year.

•  Family support workers in this team are office-based with the requirement to travel within

West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute to meet families accessing their local Bairns’ Hoose.
This is will require overnight stays where distance does not allow for same day travel.

•  To maintain and produce accurate and timely records and reports.
•  To ensure support is delivered in line with Includem’s Policies Procedures, SSSC Codes of

Practice & National Guidelines.

Quality Assurance

•  To be accountable for the quality of your work and responsible for any work delegated to
others within the Includem support, and be able to evidence this work effectively.
•  To actively participate in formal supervision and continuous professional development.
•  To have an overview of the work delegated to other Includem workers involved in delivering

individualised support to your young people.

•  To generate creative and new solutions to issues faced by young people and families.

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Person Specification

Category

Essential Job Requirements

Desirable Job Requirements

Technical Skills,
Knowledge,  and
Experience

•  Experience of effectively engaging vulnerable young
people and families who are likely to have faced
challenging life circumstances and supporting them
to achieve positive change.

•  Ability to recognise situations in which people are
in crisis or at risk and able to use support to
determine appropriate interventions.

•  Ability to respond flexibly to changing situations led
by the needs of young people and families. Ability
to provide emotional, practical, and social support
to young people and families.

•  Ability to routinely evidence practice, including

contributing to formal reports.

•  Reliability and commitment to deliver the
relationship-based model of intervention.
•  Ability to demonstrate, understand apply our

organisational values which are clearly aligned to
the SSSC Codes of Practice. These are embedded in
al roles and applicants must evidence their
attitudes/behaviours as part of the application
process:

-  Respect
-  Collaboration

Method of
Assessment
Application process

Group stage
interview

Individual interview

Internal individual
interview

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-  Participation and Dignity
-  Empowerment

Education /
Qualifications

•  SVQ Level 3 or appropriate professional
qualification for SSSC registration

Other
Requirements
[soft skills e.g.,
communication /
organisational skills etc]

•  Ability to drive and have access to your own car for

work purposes.

•  Excellent organisational and planning skills.
•  Effective team player who is also confident working

independently.

•  Self-motivated and flexible.
•  Excellent communication skills, both written and

verbal.

•  Willing to work towards SVQ Level 3 or

Application process

appropriate professional qualification for SSSC
registration.

Group stage
interview

Individual interview
Application process

Group stage
interview

Individual interview

Acknowledgement:
This job description is an overview of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position. You may be required to perform other duties throughout
your employment at the reasonable request of your line manager.

I acknowledge that I have read and understood the job requirements, responsibilities, and expectations outlined in the job description.

Employee  Name

Line Manager Name

Employee  Signature

Line Manager Signature

Date

Date

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includem.org

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visit our website:
includem.org

follow us on twitter:
@includem2000

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