Mercy in Action have an exciting opportunity for a Family Support Worker based in Bath

The Role:

Offering one to one and group support to Families living in Bath and North East Somerset, providing emotional and practical advice to meet the diverse needs of Families and Children to ensure they are safeguarded and supported.

You:

Working in Partnership with families, you will provide advice and support to strengthen parenting and promote the safety and welfare if children and young people living within the family, reducing the risk of abuse and neglect and the need for statutory social care intervention.

You will have the ability to make and maintain professional relationships within the appropriate boundaries to ensure consistency and reliability.

The ability to engage with vulnerable families and encourage them to develop their own support networks and introduce them to local community play hubs, therapeutic groups for children etc as appropriate.

You will work effectively as a supportive team player as well as on your own initiative. With the ability to manage your own workload, identifying priorities for yourself, colleagues.

You will need excellent literary and administrative skills including ability in information technology, data collection and report writing.

Be Pro-active and a confident communicator with excellent inter-personal and communication skills (verbal and written).

Why Mercy in Action?

We invest in the development of our staff, offering a nurturing and supportive work culture. You will have opportunities to develop and grow your skills, with potential for advancement. You will be an important part of our work to stop poverty.

A little bit about us:

Mercy in Action is a UK registered charity (1096068) working with children, their families and communities in the UK and the Philippines.

In the UK, our Petra Project provides nurturing homes for young mums and their babies and young people, who would otherwise be facing homelessness. In the Philippines, our work centres around helping children to regain lost years by providing residential care, a schooling program and a drop-in centre for street children. Our professional staff work tirelessly to reunite families and enable them to have a future together.

Our newest Bath-based projects, the Clothesline and Action Pantry, provide food and clothing to local families.

Our growing network of Mercy in Action Charity shops raises essential funds for maintaining and expanding these projects, enabling us to support those most in need.

Key Responsibilities:

• To offer practical help, advice and emotional support to individuals and families in their homes, community venues or groups.

• To provide families with information about other services, make referrals and help them to access these services.

• To maintain detailed notes on the work with children, young people and families/carers. Provide written information and case studies to contribute to monitoring reports when required.

• Coordinate multi-agency support and attend/chair multi-agency meeting e.g. Team around the Child/ Family (TAC/TAF) if required

• Help families to develop their own support networks and introduce them to local Community Hubs, Family Play Hubs, Therapeutic Groups for children etc as appropriate.

• To work alongside other Mercy in Action community Services, providing them with information and responding to needs.

• To attend external meetings, staff meetings and training as agreed.

• Work at all times within the policies, procedures and ethos of Mercy in Action.

• Engage with vulnerable service users and carer’s and genuinely involve them in a respectful relationship holding them in continuous positive regard.

• To maintain an observational and curious approach to analysing the impact of attachment and trauma on the family dynamics.

• Challenge families from a relational perspective understanding both strengths and potential risks and limitations within the family.

• Strong crisis management skills and an ability to cope in stressful situations.

Software Utilised:

· MS Office 365

· MS Teams

Requirements of Role:

NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) in relevant discipline.

Over 2 years’ experience of working with Families.

Driving licence required and access to vehicle.

Reliable

Good communication skills

An understanding of risk assessment and risk management.

Excellent attention to detail

Understanding the work and ethos of MiA

Mercy in Action is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment, anyone working in a post with children or vulnerable groups will need to undertake an 

Enhanced DBS check.

The suitability of all prospective employees or volunteers will be assessed in line with our safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 30 per week

Salary: £24,500 pro rata

Actual Salary: £18,375.00 per year