Job Title:
Reporting to:
We Are Beams Grade:
Location:
Hours of Work:
Job Purpose
Parent Support Worker
Family Advice Manager
Band B
Allsworth Court
25 hours per week
The main objective of this post is to support parents of under 5’s with SEND with
or without a formal diagnosis. The role will provide early, consistent, and personal
support to mitigate the risks of developmental delays, long-term academic
struggles, and negative health implications for young children. The focus is on
early intervention to improve cognitive, social, and emotional development and to
promote skills for school readiness. The worker will be an integral member of the
Family Advice team as well as wider teams of professionals from universal and
specialist services to provide a coordinated response to families’ needs.
The worker will be experienced in working with families of children with SEND and
have an understanding of challenges they face. They will be skilled in recognising
and responding to safeguarding concerns.
Main Responsibilities and Duties:
• Facilitate a twice-monthly term time ‘Stay & Play’ session to build school
readiness skills and reduce isolation.
Plan and coordinate a wide range of age-appropriate, stimulating games
and activities for pre-school children with SEN.
Ensure play sessions include structured activities, free play, and group
activities like stories or singing.
Supervise children's play, actively engage in activities, and encourage
positive interactions in a safe and secure environment.
Build relationships with families helping to identify areas of need and to
explore potential pathways for ongoing support.
Support parents regardless of whether their child has a confirmed
diagnosis.
Address the stress and mental health challenges parents may face, which
can impact family dynamics.
Promote equality, inclusion, and respect in all service delivery.
Undertake designated responsibilities to safeguard and promote children’s
welfare.
Adhere to data protection and information sharing policy and procedure.
WWW.WEAREBEAMS.ORG.UK
RCN: 1054129
Facilitate regular contact with families including home visits where required
Carry out thorough risk assessments to protect the safety of yourself and
volunteers when visiting families in their own homes.
To plan and organise own workload. This includes receiving referrals,
liaising and co-working with colleagues, record keeping and prioritising and
planning support.
Develop a volunteer bank and support volunteers to engage families in a
range of activities designed to build their resilience and support networks,
and improve whole family well-being.
Provide support and supervision for volunteers, alongside informal support
contact.
Other Responsibilities:
To positively represent Beams and to work collaboratively within the Family
Advice Team.
Work within all Beam’s policies, procedures and standards.
To undertake any duties directed by the Family Advice Manager.
To be able to attend external meetings and functions to represent Beams when
required.
To be able to support fundraising and promotional events to support Beams
and raise its profile.
WWW.WEAREBEAMS.ORG.UK
RCN: 1054129
Personal Specification: Parent Support Worker
The following outlines the Essential criteria for this post. Applicants who have a
disability and who meet the Essential criteria will be shortlisted.
Applicants should describe in their application how they meet these criteria.
Criteria
Qualifications
Educated to a minimum of NVQ level 2 equivalent
(5 GCSE’s including English and Maths) or above
Experience
Qualification in Early Years / Child Development
Knowledge and understanding of the barriers
families of children with SEND face, particularly in
early years
Experience planning and leading play activities for
children
Experience of providing emotional support,
providing guidance and showing empathy whilst
maintaining professional boundaries
Skills and Abilities
Ability to empathise and relate to people’s
situations and be objective in helping them find
solutions and coping strategies
Good organisational skills and ability to work with
a minimum of supervision
Good communication skills, particularly listening
skills
Ability to source information to give relevant
information regarding individual enquiries
Ability to generate confidence in others in seeking
solutions to their needs
Ability to maintain accurate and up to date records
and reports
Good IT skills
Good team work skills
WWW.WEAREBEAMS.ORG.UK
RCN: 1054129
Able to manage multi-task activities and good
planning skills
Understanding of confidentiality and data
protection
Ability to identify when to refer to manager for
assistance/advice and understand when client
work must be escalated for management input
Ability to develop new skills, develop the work and
extend personal knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge of local groups and agencies working
with disabled children and their families
Personal Qualities
Flexible approach to work
Reliable and Enthusiastic
Willing to be a Team Player
Methodical in approach with an eye for detail
Personal commitment to equal opportunities and
anti-discriminatory practices
Commitment to continuing personal professional
development
Other
Fulfil the requirements of an ‘Enhanced DBS
Disclosure’
Willingness to work outside of office hours and at
weekends as required
Ability to regularly travel and work outside of the
office base (usually within Kent)
On occasions to represent the Charity at wider
events
Hold a full driving licence
WWW.WEAREBEAMS.ORG.UK
RCN: 1054129