Salary: £34,434 to £35,412 per annum
Hours: 37 Hours per week
Location: Cumberland Wide
Contract: Permanent
About this opportunity
Cumberland Council is seeking to recruit a passionate and committed Family Help Worker – Youth RISE to support young people aged 16–24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
This is a rewarding opportunity to play a key role in early intervention and homelessness prevention, helping young people achieve positive, stable outcomes and homes. You will work directly with young adults and their families to provide targeted, needs-led support that builds resilience, improves understanding of their circumstances, and promotes sustainable housing solutions—whether that is returning home or moving towards independent living.
The role is central to our improvement journey and supports our ambition to improve outcomes for young people, in line with Ofsted priorities and local strategies.
What you will do
- Provide early intervention and prevention-focused support to young people worried about becoming homelessness
- Support young people to navigate housing, education, health, and support services
- Promote safe, sustainable housing solutions and reduce the need for statutory homelessness interventions
- Build positive, trusting relationships with vulnerable young people to support engagement
- Work in partnership with housing services, education providers, Children’s Services, and voluntary sector organisations
- Contribute to delivering key strategies, including the Family Help strategy and the Joint Protocol for Homeless 16–17-year-olds
- Ensure a coordinated multi-agency approach to achieve the best outcomes
We are looking for someone who is passionate about prevention and making a difference, and who is confident working with vulnerable young people and across professional boundaries.
You will have:
- Significant experience in youth work, housing, or a related field
- A proven ability to engage vulnerable young people and families, particularly those at risk of homelessness
- Strong understanding of the challenges and barriers faced by young people in housing crisis
- Experience delivering needs-led, outcome-focused interventions
- A track record of effective multi-agency and partnership working
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusting, respectful relationships
- Knowledge of local approaches to homelessness prevention and support pathways (desirable)
This is an exciting time to join Cumberland Council, where we are strengthening our focus on early help and prevention. You will be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team committed to improving the lives of young people.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
- Make a real and lasting difference to young people’s lives
- Work in a dynamic, multi-agency environment
- Contribute to key service developments and system improvements
- Develop your skills within a supportive and collaborative team
If you are committed to helping young people overcome challenges and achieve positive futures, we would love to hear from you.
This role is available on a permanent basis.
Why join us?
- A lifestyle you won’t find elsewhere – Living and working in Cumbria offers the best of both worlds. You’ll have a fulfilling and rewarding career while being surrounded by stunning landscapes, from the world-famous Lake District National Park to unspoilt coastlines and vibrant market towns. Whether you enjoy hiking, water sports, cycling, or simply relaxing in a picturesque setting, Cumbria provides an outstanding quality of life.
- Supportive environment – You’ll be part of a team that values collaboration, compassion, and innovation. We focus on potential over perfection, giving you opportunities to develop your skills and grow your career.
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.
We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.
Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.
Contact
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Abi Macrae by email at [email protected]
DBS Checks
This role requires a DBS check. The level of check for this role is:
Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s/Adults Barred List check.
Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with adults and Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with adults and Children.
Guaranteed Interviews
We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.
- Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
- Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
- Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).
If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.
Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments
We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.
If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing [email protected]. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.
Application and Interview information
- Closing date: 05/07/2026
- Interview date: W/C 13/07/2026
If you experience any difficulties logging in to apply for this role, please contact the HR Systems team at [email protected].
Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.
