Family Support Worker (safe and secure tenancies), Edinburgh
Last updated: 28/01/2026
Key info
Post: Family Support Worker – (fixed term 1st April 2026 – 31st March 2027 with continuation of post dependant on funding)
Hours: 18 hours per week – 9am-3:30pm – 3 days worked between Monday – Thursday
Salary: Grade Point 13-17 £25,684 – £31,612 (pro rata)
Location: City of Edinburgh wide, based at OPFS Headquarters, 2 York Place with travel and remote work in local communities
Reports to: Regional Coordinator – Edinburgh
Closing date: Friday 20th February 2026 at 5pm
The postholder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are:
Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.
Overview:
The Family Support Worker 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 the delivery of various components which contribute to the Edinburgh service, including proactively supporting single parents living in private rented accommodation. Using the OPFS My Life and Me tool, the Family Support Worker will support single parent families across all six Key Priority Areas of My Money, My Health and Wellbeing, My Home, My Work, Education and Training, My Children and My Relationships. .
The role will include direct work with single parents to understand their needs, their current housing situation, and their current barriers to secure, safe, private rented tenancies. Liaising with housing providers within Edinburgh, helping single parents navigate the complex housing system and understand their rights as a private tenant is a key element of this role. This role may include networking and events to promote the Edinburgh service and this new, unique role. The work will include outreach work with single parents, stakeholders, and partners in and around Edinburgh.
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 barriers facing many single parents and their children. Our core values of Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion are at the heart of everything we do and underpin all aspects of our work.
Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment
OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People Gold status.
Polices and guidance
Job description
The role description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that roles change and evolve over time.
Key tasks and responsibilities
Support Single Parents:
- Support single parents to understand their rights as a private tenant so that they can be empowered and informed.
- Support single parents to advocate for themselves when early-stage challenges or difficulties have arisen in relation to their private tenancy
- Support and advocate for single parents, signpost to targeted housing support services when challenges and barriers are more complex
- Promote the services available through OPFS by developing trusting relationships with single parents through the provision of 1:1 support and providing information, advice and guidance.
Family Support Work:
- Identify community resources and local services and assist single parents to engage with other agencies.
- To facilitate the delivery of groups and events. Support single parents to develop their confidence, practical skills, self-esteem and to feel empowered and informed.
- Work with single parents to identify wider support needs and refer to other support services where appropriate.
- Work alongside single parents using the My Life and Me tools, ensuring a holistic approach to support is offered.
Record Keeping and Reporting:
- Maintain confidential information, complete all appropriate client paperwork as per our Family Support process.
- Record and document meetings and support provided to single parents. Use appropriate databases as required by OPFS and the post funder, complete quarterly reports, case studies and maintain a high level of data recording to record, monitor and evaluate targets as set by the funder.
- Regular monitoring and evaluation in line with funding requirements
Other Relevant duties
- Carrying out any other relevant duties related to the above.
Personal specifications
Essential experience
- Experience of working with families and children.
- A sound understanding of the private rental sector and the wider housing landscape in Edinburgh.
- An understanding and awareness of:
- Housing issues: legislation, options & challenges.
- Security of tenure: tenancy types and leases.
- Homelessness: duties, causes & support pathways.
- Repair and Disrepair: tenant rights & landlord responsibilities.
- Finance: arrears, debt, benefit entitlements & preventing eviction.
- An understanding and awareness of the issues and barriers faced by single parents.
- Experience of developing partnerships and multi-agency working.
- Relevant professional qualification, equivalent to HNC/HND, SVQ 3 or 4.
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.
- Competent use of standard IT packages in word processing, spreadsheets, use of databases, and Microsoft Office 365.
- 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 a good communicator.
- The ability to prioritise workload.
- To accept and respond to the varying needs of families in a non-judgemental way.
- To ensure OPFS values are upheld.
Desirable
- A sound knowledge or experience of working in local statutory and third sector services in Edinburgh, particularly regarding children and families, housing rights and the private rental sector.
Terms and conditions
- Confirmation of Appointment: Fixed term contract from 1st April 2026 – 31st March 2027 with the possibility of extension (dependent on funding). Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, two references and a PVG check.
- Salary: Grade Point 13-17, £25,684 – £31,612 (pro rata).
- Hours of work: 18 hours per week, worked flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
- Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays (pro-rata).
- Pension: You will be auto enrolled in our pension scheme with a 3% contribution from you and 7% contribution 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
The closing date for applications is Friday 20th February 2026 at 5pm. Interviews will be held Tuesday 3rd March 2026 with a view to the successful candidate being in post from Wednesday 1st April 2026.
If you need to make an application in an alternative format on the basis of a disability or long-term health condition please email jobs@opfs.org.uk for guidance.
To ensure a fair and effective selection process, we require all applicants to follow the guidance below when submitting their application.
Your cover letter is a critical part of your application. It must:
- Directly demonstrate how you meet the essential experience listed in the job description.
- Provide clear, specific examples of how your experience, skills, behaviours, knowledge and values meet those criteria.
- Demonstrate your understanding of our sector, this role and its requirements, not just your general career history.
- Tailor your cover letter to this specific role – generic or perfunctory cover letters will not be accepted.