About the role

ID: 1819 Family Support Worker

Service: Norfolk And Waveney ASD/Autism Support Service

Salary: £25,176 FTE per annum (£10,206.49 pro rata per annum)

Location: Gorleston

Hours: 15 hours per week (days and times to be arranged)

Contract: Fixed term contract (2 years)

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:
At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

Are you passionate about supporting children and families? Do you have experience working with families in community settings and a good understanding of autism, ADHD, and additional needs?

Family Action is looking for a dedicated and compassionate Family Support Worker to join our Norfolk and Waveney ASD/ADHD Support Service. This rewarding role offers the opportunity to support families of children who are awaiting assessment for autism and/or ADHD, helping them navigate challenges, access support, and build confidence.

As a Family Support Worker, you will work alongside Coordinators, colleagues, volunteers, and partner agencies to deliver high-quality support to families across Norfolk and Waveney. You will provide practical advice, emotional support, and guidance through a range of delivery methods, including support groups, one-to-one sessions, virtual appointments, and occasional home visits.

You will play a key role in helping families understand local pathways and services while contributing to the development of innovative, parent-led support initiatives.

This role is based in our Gorleston office but will require travel across Norfolk and Waveney

Main Responsibilities:
1. To work alongside the Co-ordinators and Family Support Workers across the County to deliver and develop the Norfolk and Waveney ASD/ADHD Support Service. With the main locality of face to face groups and courses we provide running across Norfolk.

2. To facilitate support groups for families awaiting assessment for autism/ADHD in the area.

3. Coproduction of parent-led groups and parent forums, co-facilitating courses for parents/carers such as the 3 week Plan Bee course.

4. To offer individual telephone or virtual (via Zoom or Teams) support to parents referred to the project and this support to include giving information, advice and guidance; signposting; referring to other agencies as appropriate and, where appropriate, attending team around the family meeting for example Early Help Assessment Plan meetings. This may also include occasional home visits.

5. To work with the co-ordinator to develop relationships with schools, pre-schools, children’s health services and children’s social services and, in particular, NCHC Neurodevelopmental Teams to provide co-ordinated support to families.

6. Develop an understanding of the autism/ADHD assessment pathway in order to advise and support families.

7. To use Inform, Family Action’s case management system, to keep accurate case records including outcome measures and to assist in the preparation of reports.

8. To actively participate in service reviews, writing case studies and evaluations and to attend relevant multi-agency meetings to promote the service.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):
• Experience of working directly with families in community settings.
• Experience delivering evidence-based programmes or interventions for parents.
• Experience of working within multi-agency environments and supporting families holistically.
• A strong understanding of child development, particularly autism and ADHD.
• Knowledge of the challenges facing families, including the impact of social exclusion, parental mental health difficulties, domestic abuse, and substance misuse.
• Understanding of SEND processes, Local Offers, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and school-based support for children with additional needs.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and IT skills.
• The ability to build positive relationships with families, colleagues, and partner agencies.

Benefits:
- an annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days pro rata, and after a full year of service, rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days pro rata plus bank holidays
- up to 6% matched-pension contributions
- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers
- cycle to work scheme
- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

To Apply:
• Click the ‘Apply’ link below and fill out our digital application form
• Closing Date: 31st July 2026 at 23:59 midnight

Interviews are scheduled to take place from 13th August in Gorleston, with slots throughout the working day and early/late slots available.

For any queries, or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the selection process or the potential for flexible working, please email: Laura.hawkins@family-action.org.uk

All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates. We are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action because we know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and we strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.