Family Support Worker – Glasgow

Last updated: 06/06/2024

Key info

Location: Based at OPFS Glasgow Service

Salary: Point 13 – 17: £25,111- £30,691

Hours: 35 hours per week, flexibly to meet the demands of the Service

Closing Date: Midnight 27th June 2024

Reports to: Regional Co-ordinator

The successful post-holder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are:

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Overview

The Family Support Worker role will contribute to the organisation’s vision of a Scotland in which single parents and their children are valued and treated equally and fairly by supporting and delivering the various components which contribute to the Falkirk Service.

They will provide direct interventions to single parents and their families including practical and emotional support in line with the OPFS Family Support Process. The role will include the development and delivery of groups and events for single parents and their families and will be responsible for promoting our work at networking opportunities and outreach activities.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support that enables them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to poverty and the barriers facing single parents and their children.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

  • OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and flexible working requests will be considered. OPFS has Investors In People status and Living Wage accreditation.

Key tasks, personal specifications and terms and conditions

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, as jobs change and evolve over time.

Key tasks and responsibilities

  • Groupwork/Events: Develop, design and deliver a range of group work programmes including health and wellbeing and Peer Support programmes for single parents and their children and deliver a range of support and practical skills groups for parents and their families. Coordinate the delivery of a range of community events with a range of partners.
  • Support Single Parents: Help single parents to develop their confidence, practical skills, self-esteem and to make informed and positive choices in their lives. Work with parents to identify wider support needs and refer to other support services as appropriate.
  • Family Support: To develop and deliver a range of 1:1 and group work interventions for single parent families to improve resilience.  Supporting single parents in developing parenting skills and supporting them to reduce isolation through developing supportive relationships with other single parents.
  • Advice and Information: Promote the services available through One Parent Families Scotland by developing trusting relationships with single parents through the provision of interactive sessions, providing information, advice and support.
  • Money Advice: Liaise with OPFS Financial Inclusion Service to offer crisis, income maximisation, in work calculations and access to debt support.
  • Partnership Working: Developing and maintaining contacts with agencies and contribute to partnership working to create new opportunities for single parent families.
  • Record Keeping & Evaluation: Maintain confidential information, complete all appropriate client paperwork as per our Family Support process. Record and document meetings and support provided to single parents. Evaluate and continuously improve service provision and complete monthly case studies within agreed timelines.
  • Reporting, Targets and OutcomesEnsure project outcomes and targets are met in -line with funding application and submit comprehensive reports to the Project Manager on all areas of work you are responsible for
  • Any other relevant duties as requested by the Regional Coordinator.

Personal specifications

Please ensure you identify how you meet these within your personal statement.

Essential Experience:

  • Qualified to HNC level or equivalent relevant experience.
  • Experience of developing effective partnerships and multi-agency working
  • Experience of working with single parent families in group work settings
  • Experience of organising and delivering a wide range of training programmes including Health and Wellbeing and Peer Support
  • A clean driving licence and access to a vehicle

Practical Skills: 

  • Ability to plan, record and evaluate through recording and written reports.
  • Strong organisational skills
  • Ability to work as part of a team and as an individual.
  • Knowledge of issues affecting single parents in Scotland
  • Commitment to professional development

Personal Qualities & Attributes: 

  • Flexible to meet the needs of the service
  • To be approachable friendly and good communicator.
  • The ability to prioritise workload and work independently when required.
  • To accept and respond to the varying needs of families in a non-judgemental way.
  • To ensure OPFS values are upheld

Terms & conditions

  • Period of Appointment: Fixed term to 31st March 2025 with possibility of extension.
  • Confirmation of Appointment: Confirmation of appointment is subject to a satisfactory Standard Disclosure Check, 2 suitable references and completion of a 3-month probationary period, which ends when a successful probationary review has taken place.
  • Salary: Point 13 -17: £25,111- £30,691
  • Hours of work: Hours of work will be 35 hours per week, worked flexibly to meet the demands of the job
  • Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays. An additional 5 days, 35 hours, calculated pro rata for part time, is added after 5 years’ service.
  • Pension: You will be auto enrolled in our pension scheme with a 3% contribution from you and 7% from OPFS.
  • Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held and staff have access to internal and external training.

Further information

Please contact info@opfs.org.uk or 0131 556 3899 if you require a paper application form and ensure that you allow plenty of time for posting. Completed paper applications should be sent to Recruitment, One Parent Families Scotland, 2 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EP.

Completed Word applications should be sent to jobs@opfs.org.uk by closing date midnight 27th June.

Download application form