Job Specification
Job Title: Family Support Worker / Children's Support Worker
Location: Essex
Employment Type: Self-Employed (Ad-Hoc Assignments) Weekends only
Salary: up to £14ph.
About Potton Social Care Services
Potton Social Care Services is a dedicated social care agency supporting families, young people, and children facing multiple and complex challenges, including those on the edge of care, substance abuse, mental health issues, domestic abuse, and disabilities.
Our work is commissioned by local authorities, and referrals may involve:
- Family support
- Respite care for families with children with disabilities
- Supervised contacts
- Welfare checks
Support is provided in family homes, contact centres, hospitals, community and other appropriate settings.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide direct support to children, young people, and families in need.
- Conduct welfare checks and supervised contacts as per referral requirements.
- Deliver respite care for children with disabilities, ensuring their safety and well-being.
- Maintain professional boundaries while engaging with service users.
- Follow safeguarding procedures and report concerns appropriately.
- Produce clear and accurate written reports on service delivery.
- Manage challenging situations, including de-escalating distress in public or home settings.
- Undertake personal care for children where required, maintaining dignity and respect.
Essential Criteria:
- Experience working with children, young people, and families facing complex challenges.
- Understanding of safeguarding procedures and professional boundaries.
- Ability to conduct risk assessments and respond to crisis situations.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for report writing.
- Willingness to undertake personal care duties where required.
- Full and current DBS (preferably registered with the update service).
- Understanding of self-employment responsibilities, including invoicing and tax obligations.
Desirable Criteria:
- Relevant qualifications in social care, childcare, or a related field.
- Experience in respite care, supervised contact, or welfare checks.
- Knowledge of local authority processes and working in multi-agency environments.
Additional Information:
- This role operates on an ad-hoc basis, with referrals sent out for staff to accept as available.
- Timesheets and invoices must be submitted weekly, with payments processed accordingly.
If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families and meet the above criteria, we would love to hear from you.
Job Type: Freelance
Pay: £12.71-£14.00 per hour
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
