Child Support Worker
Would you like to be part of our team, working with our charity to prevent domestic abuse in all its forms and to support and empower those affected by it?
At Safe in Sussex, we provide a range of practical and confidential help and support services for residents in West Sussex, including refuge accommodation for women and their children, recovery support groups, 1 to 1 guidance and advocacy, and training and support for professionals.
We are committed to providing a service that prioritises the specific needs of children who have been affected by domestic abuse. Our aim is to protect children’s rights to be listened to and believed.
As Child Support Worker you will be responsible for protecting the rights of children within the refuge provision, working with the rest of the Refuge Team to ensure that the refuge offers a safe, secure, and appropriate service to all children. You will work in partnership with the mothers to identify their children’s needs and draw up appropriate support plans, and will provide therapeutic support by incorporating a range of activities in individual and group sessions. Acting as an advocate for the children, you will liaise with relevant agencies to ensure that their health, educational and social needs are met.
Location: This role is based across facilities in Littlehampton and Worthing and requires occasional travel to other sites within a reasonable travelling distance, as needed.
Hours: 20 hours per week across 4 weekdays (2-days, 10am-3pm, and 2-days 11.30am-4.30pm), with the option to increase to 25 hours.
Salary: £14,956 per annum (£27,669 FTE)
Benefits: 5 working weeks holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata)
Auto-enrolment into the NEST pension scheme after 3 months’ service
Enhanced sickness pay after probationary period (4 months)
Personal and professional development opportunities
Employee Assistance Programme (24 hour access to wellbeing, legal and family support)
Your role will be busy, interesting and varied, with key responsibilities including:
- Assess the needs of each child within an agreed time scale and plan their individual support plan, reviewing it as appropriate.
- Forward plan and implement a programme of individual / group support work and recreational activities designed to support children of all ages living in the refuge that incorporates a range of diverse activities including play, games, sport, drama and artwork.
- Empower and support children in making their own decisions.
- Support the mother in her relationship with her children, providing practical parenting skills and family sessions when appropriate, always working in partnership with the mother to plan support services for children, with due regard to religious and cultural differences.
- Ensure that set guidelines on anti-abuse and anti-discriminatory practices are upheld.
- Work to ensure that the refuge is accessible to all women and children who need our service having due regard to black and ethnic minority groups.
- Work to ensure that the Child Protection Policy is upheld and that children’s safety is always paramount.
- During school holidays organise local activities and days out for the families.
- Where appropriate liaise with relevant agencies – i.e. health service, schools, social services and education, including organising school admissions and nursery places for new children arriving at the refuge.
- Where necessary attend court and/or case conferences, and inter-agency meetings.
- Have due regard to child protection issues and the special needs of children who have experienced emotional abuse, and physical and sexual violence.
- Keep accurate and appropriate records on the progress of each child in the Refuge and provide reports on progress made when required.
- Assist in the preparation of relevant statistical information relating to the children’s service and follow agreed procedures for recording all information needed to support continued funding.
- Assist in the monitoring and evaluation systems linked to the Children’s Service.
- To communicate positively with colleagues and promote SIS values and ethos across the organisation, attending staff meetings and expressing your views to promote effective working practices.
- Attend quarterly performance & development reviews with the Refuge Manager, ensuring you work to meet any on-going training and development targets set and attend relevant conferences.
- To promote the work of SIS, always modelling a high standard of professional behaviour.
- Always comply with all SIS policies and procedures, including but not limited to those relating to health and safety, data protection, and equality and diversity.
- Any other duties as may reasonably be required.
This job could be right for you if you have:
- 2 years’ experience of working with children and young people
- understanding of child development and the impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences
- ability to assess risk, identify support needs, and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
- knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance relating to children, safeguarding, domestic abuse, and confidentiality.
- a good working knowledge of domestic violence/ abuse related issues, able to remain calm and resilient when working with individuals experiencing crisis or distress.
- sound knowledge of safeguarding children
- effective and sensitive communication skills, maintaining professional boundaries while providing empathetic, person-centred support.
- good administrative skills, including PC use for accurate record keeping and reporting
Above all else, we would like to hear from you if you are looking for a busy, varied role that allows you to utilise your skill set and become an integral part of our charity to optimise service delivery.
To Apply
Please email your CV to [email protected] along with a covering supporting statement which gives examples of how your skills and experience are relevant to this role. This could draw from current or past employment, voluntary or community work, leisure activities or homebased experience, or your training and education history. Unfortunately, we will be unable to process applications that do not include a separate supporting statement.
The closing date is 6th August 2026. Interviews will be held on Thursday 13th August 2026.
Thank you for taking an interest in Safe in Sussex, and we look forward to receiving your application.
Please note that due to the nature of the work this post has a genuine occupational requirement to be open to females only and is exempt under the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.
As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, we actively encourage applicants from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds.
For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, information provided as part of your application may be stored for reference purposes by Safe in Sussex for up to 36 months after the recruitment process has been completed. If you are appointed, such information and any supplementary papers you provide will form a part of your personnel records during your employment with Safe in Sussex and will be archived for 7 years after the end of your employment.
Worthing Women's Aid t/a Safe in Sussex is a registered charity, number 1098726.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £14.38 per hour
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
