Family Support Officer

Family Support Worker 


Hybrid: 3 days office-based community work some home working
36 hours per week
£25 per hour (umbrella) (£18 PAYE an hour)
Initial 3-month contract (potential extension)

Southwark Council is recruiting a Family Support Worker to join the Extra-Familial Harm & Missing Team, supporting vulnerable adolescents and families at risk of exploitation, contextual harm, and children going missing from home or care.

This is a frontline, relationship-focused role working across the community, council sites and from home, providing targeted, practical and emotional support to young people and families.

About the role
You will work closely with children, young people and their families to build trusted relationships, reduce risk, and improve outcomes. The role sits within adolescent safeguarding and involves multi-agency partnership working alongside social workers, education, police and specialist services.

Key responsibilities

• Work directly with children, young people and families experiencing complex needs and risks
• Support adolescents vulnerable to exploitation, extra-familial harm and missing episodes
• Deliver practical and emotional family support, including during times of crisis
• Carry out Return Home Interviews and targeted interventions where appropriate
• Contribute to assessments and intervention plans with social workers and partner agencies
• Coordinate and signpost families to local and national support services
• Participate in multi-disciplinary meetings and case discussions
• Maintain accurate case records and produce professional reports
• Build resilience in young people and help families achieve sustainable outcomes

Requirements

• Experience working with children, young people and families in a social care / safeguarding / youth support setting
• Knowledge of exploitation, contextual safeguarding, and risks linked to missing from home or care
• Strong multi-agency working and communication skills
• Ability to assess risk, record case information and produce clear professional reports
• Experience delivering practical and solution-focused family interventions
• Enhanced DBS required

This is an excellent opportunity to join a specialist safeguarding team making a real difference to vulnerable adolescents and their families across Southwark.

Apply now to be considered.