About Sailors' Children’s Society
Sailors' Children's Society is a national charity with more than 200 years of history supporting children and families from seafaring backgrounds through some of life's most difficult moments. We work with families connected to the fishing industry, Royal Navy, Merchant Navy, inland waterways and the wider maritime sector who are experiencing financial hardship, bereavement, illness or family crisis.
Our support goes far beyond financial assistance. Alongside grants for everyday essentials, clothing and respite, we provide practical guidance, emotional support and dedicated family support, helping families build resilience and look towards a brighter future.
We're a small but ambitious charity with big plans. We believe in putting families first, embracing new ideas and continually improving the way we work. If you're looking for a role where you can make a genuine difference every day, we'd love to welcome you to our Welfare Team.
The Role
This isn't your typical office job, and no two days are ever the same.
As our Welfare Coordinator, you'll be one of the first people families speak to when they reach out to Sailors' Children's Society. Often, they'll be contacting us at one of the most difficult times in their lives following a bereavement, a family breakdown, a serious illness or a period of financial hardship.
You'll manage applications from start to finish, administer grants and financial support, maintain accurate case records and ensure every family receives a positive, responsive experience.
You'll become part of each family's journey, helping them navigate challenges, celebrating their successes and ensuring they know they have someone in their corner. Every conversation matters, and every decision has the potential to make a lasting difference to a child's life.
Working closely with our Head of Welfare & Empowering Families, Family Support Officers and wider team, you'll help shape and continuously improve the way we deliver our services.
This role offers plenty of variety. If you're someone who enjoys building relationships, solving problems, working with purpose and making a genuine difference every single day, you'll fit right in.
Key Responsibilities
Family Support & Applications
- Act as the first point of contact for families, referral agencies and partner organisations., answering phone calls, web queries and emails.
- Provide guidance on available support to meet needs of families and triaging all applications coming into the service.
- Manage the referral, assessment, and onboarding process for new families, applying the Society's eligibility criteria and engaging sensitively with families who may be vulnerable, in crisis, or facing complex personal and social challenges.
- Maintain regular contact with families on our scheme, forming professional working relationships to empower and guide them through their individual situations.
Grants & Financial Administration
- Administer monthly financial support payments and additional grants to families, including funding for holidays, school uniforms, winter clothing, essential items, and activities that enhance children's wellbeing and development.
- Process payments accurately and efficiently, ensuring appropriate authorisation, compliance with procedures, and timely reconciliation of financial records.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial, case management, and beneficiary records using the Society's systems, ensuring confidentiality and adherance to data protection at all times.
Case Management
- Conduct annual reviews and monitor ongoing eligibility for support, maintaining regular contact with families to understand their current circumstances and make evidence-based, defensible decisions in line with the Society's criteria.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with families and referring agencies, communicating through their preferred channels to ensure an accessible, responsive, and person-centred service.
- Provide ongoing support to families throughout their journey with the Society, offering guidance, responding to enquiries, and signposting to relevant external services and sources of additional support where appropriate.
- Coordinate and deliver regular communications to families, including information about activities, events, payments, grants, opportunities, and other Society initiatives, ensuring they remain informed and engaged with available support.
- Deliver a friendly, professional, and approachable service that promotes trust, engagement, and positive outcomes for children and families.
Partnership Working & Safeguarding
- Work collaboratively with maritime charities, referral partners, statutory agencies, and other support organisations to ensure families receive coordinated and effective support that meets their individual needs.
- Identify, document, and escalate safeguarding concerns in line with the Society's policies and procedures, taking appropriate action to protect children and vulnerable adults.
- Promote and uphold the welfare, safety, and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults in all aspects of service delivery.
General Duties
- Contribute to the wider work and objectives of the Society, including supporting and attending events, meetings, fundraising activities, and other organisational initiatives involving children and families.
- Represent the Society in a professional manner, acting as a positive ambassador for its values and mission.
- Participate in training, supervision, and continuous professional development to maintain and enhance knowledge, skills, and best practice.
Working Environment
This role is primarily office-based at our Hessle office, with occasional travel required for family reviews, meetings, networking events and charity functions. Some home visits may be required within a reasonable travel radius.
Person Specification – Welfare Coordinator
Joining Sailors' Children's Society means joining a charity that works incredibly hard, moves quickly and is constantly looking for ways to do things better. We're a small but mighty team, and every decision we make starts with one question: what's best for the families we support?
Our beneficiaries are children and families from seafaring backgrounds who are often facing financial hardship, bereavement, illness or other life-changing circumstances. Sometimes you'll be the reassuring voice at the end of the phone. Sometimes you'll be helping a family navigate one of the most difficult periods of their lives. Whatever the situation, you'll treat every family with kindness, dignity and respect.
Because of the nature of our work, safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection are non-negotiable. We take our responsibility to protect the families who trust us seriously, and we're looking for someone who shares those values.
We're not a charity that stands still. Whether it's finding new ways to raise funds or developing innovative welfare programmes, we're always asking how we can do more and do it better. We want people who aren't afraid to share ideas, challenge the status quo and help shape the future of our welfare services. Your experience, insight and creativity will be valued from day one.
Above all, we're looking for someone who sees beyond the application form or grant request. Our grants make an immediate difference, but they're only one part of the support we provide. We want someone who is genuinely curious about people's stories, takes time to understand their circumstances and looks at the whole family, not just the financial need.
This role can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be emotionally demanding. You'll hear difficult stories that stay with you long after the phone call has ended. Because of that, we're looking for someone who is resilient, compassionate and able to make balanced decisions, even in challenging situations. You'll need confidence in your judgement, while always keeping the family's best interests at the centre of your thinking.
Although you'll have plenty of autonomy in your day-to-day work, you'll never be on your own. You'll be joining a supportive team of passionate colleagues who genuinely care about one another, celebrate successes together and are always there to offer advice or a listening ear when things are tough.
We're also looking for someone who is organised, able to manage a varied workload and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change quickly. You'll have excellent attention to detail, be confident using IT systems and understand the importance of keeping accurate records.
Most importantly, we're looking for the right person, not necessarily the perfect CV. You don't need to have worked in a charity before. This role could be ideal for someone with experience in family support, customer service, social care, community development, housing, education, healthcare or another people-focused profession. If you're passionate about helping others, willing to learn and share our values, we'd love to hear from you.
We're committed to investing in our people. You'll receive training, support and opportunities for ongoing professional development because we believe that when our team grows, our impact grows too.
Benefits
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Pension scheme.
- Generous annual leave entitlement; 28 days plus your birthday off.
- Training and professional development opportunities.
- Supportive and collaborative team environment.
Sailors’ Children’s Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All appointments will be subject to appropriate safeguarding checks.
Pay: £25,500.00-£30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Work from home
Application question(s):
- We’d love to know more about you! Please share a short personal statement telling us why you’re excited about this opportunity and what you can bring to the role.
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Hessle HU13 0JA
