We have a fantastic job opening for an enthusiastic and motivated, Young Carers Family Support Navigator to join our dynamic, creative and supportive Children & Young Adult Carers team.
Summary
The Young Carers Family Support Navigator will play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between families, schools, and services. The postholder will deliver compassionate, practical, and outcomes-focused support to families of young carers—helping them to overcome barriers, strengthen relationships, and access the resources they need to thrive.
Main purpose of role:
· To provide holistic, family-centred, and trauma-informed support to young carers and young adult carers (aged 5–25) and their families.
· To act a key link between home, school, health, and social care—advocating for families and ensuring young carers receive the right support to thrive.
· To reduce the impact of caring responsibilities by improving family relationships, school attendance, wellbeing, and access to support.
· To provide early intervention and practical assistance for families facing hardship, ensuring they are aware of and can access financial, emotional, and community support.
· To strengthen family resilience and help young carers develop emotional regulation, confidence, and life skills.
· To identify barriers impacting education, wellbeing, or home life and develop person-centred action plans to address these collaboratively with families and professionals.
· To work collaboratively with the Young Carers Lead, Engagement Worker, and Assessment Lead to ensure joined-up support across all aspects of the service.
Key responsibilities
1. Family Support and Early Intervention
- Provide one-to-one, family-based, and small-group interventions to young carers and their families in home, school, or community settings.
- Identify and assess needs using a person-centred, trauma-informed approach that empowers both the young carer and their family.
- Support families to access early help and statutory or voluntary services, advocating on their behalf where necessary.
- Work with families to address issues such as school attendance, behavioural challenges, emotional wellbeing, or financial hardship.
- Develop and maintain trusting relationships with families to help reduce crisis situations and promote resilience.
2. Advocacy and Multi-Agency Collaboration
- Act as the primary link between families and key professionals, including schools, social workers, GPs, mental health services, and local authority early help teams.
- Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings, providing professional insight into the young carer’s experience and family needs.
- Support professionals to better understand and identify young carers within their settings.
- Advocate for young carers’ rights and inclusion in decision-making processes.
3. Financial and Practical Support
- Assist families with accessing benefits, grants, and hardship funds to alleviate cost-of-living pressures.
- Provide signposting and practical support around budgeting, food, transport, and essential needs.
- Work with the Young Carers Lead to coordinate small hardship or wellbeing grants that directly support young carers and their families.
4. Education and Emotional Development
- Support schools in implementing strategies that improve attendance, emotional wellbeing, and engagement for young carers.
- Deliver targeted interventions that develop young carers’ self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and coping skills.
- Support transitions across educational stages (primary to secondary, post-16, and into adulthood).
5. Partnership and Community Engagement
- Build and sustain positive working relationships with professionals across education, health, and voluntary sectors.
- Collaborate with community organisations to enhance family wellbeing and promote inclusion.
- Represent Harrow Carers at local events, steering groups, and professional forums as required.
- Contribute to raising awareness of young carers’ issues within the community through outreach and presentations.
6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
- Record all activity accurately on the Charity Log database and maintain up-to-date case notes.
- Collect evidence of outcomes and impact in line with funder and internal monitoring requirements.
- Support the Service Manager with data analysis, evaluation reports, and continuous improvement.
- Reflect on and share learning from family work to strengthen service practice and design
7. General Duties
- Participate in regular supervision, team meetings, and reflective practice sessions.
- Undertake professional development and training to strengthen trauma-informed and family support skills.
- Work flexibly, including occasional after-school or weekend hours, for which time off in lieu will be given.
- Carry out duties in accordance with Harrow Carers’ safeguarding, confidentiality, equality, data protection, and health & safety policies
The above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive. The post-holder will undertake such duties that may be required from time, that are consistent with the role and the needs of the organisation.
Person Specification
Essential
- Proven experience supporting children, young people, or families facing complex or challenging circumstances.
- Understanding of the issues affecting young carers and the wider family context.
- Knowledge of early help, safeguarding, and multi-agency working frameworks.
- Strong interpersonal and advocacy skills with the ability to empower families and build trust.
- Excellent communication, assessment, and record-keeping skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage a varied caseload effectively.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.
Desirable
- Experience in family support, education welfare, or community outreach roles.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed and strength-based models of practice.
- Familiarity with Charity Log or similar client management systems.
- Qualification in counselling, social care, psychology, or family work (Level 3 or above).
- Lived experience as a carer or working within carer-focused services.
The above list of responsibilities is not exhaustive. The post-holder will undertake such duties that may be required from time, that are consistent with the role and the needs of the organisation.
Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 52 weeks
Pay: £17.60 per hour
Benefits:
- Flexitime
- Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: In person
