Family support worker
Family support workers help families with long or short term problems.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a family support worker you could:
- work with people addicted to alcohol or drugs
- support a parent while they're in hospital or prison
- support clients who have marriage or money problems
- support a child or parent with a disability
- attend court sessions about caring for a child
- help clients develop their parenting skills
Working environment
You could work at a school, in an office, at a client's home or in a court.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
Career path and progression
With experience and training you could:
- specialise in an area, like working with people with disabilities
- lead a team of family support workers
- manage a family centre or refuge
- move into social work
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- sensitivity and understanding
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
- a desire to help people
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
For many roles you may be expected to have a driving licence with no penalty points.
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- volunteering
- applying directly
You could do a level 3 diploma in health and social care or children and young people's workforce.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
More Information
An apprenticeship may help you gain the skills you need to become a family support worker.
You could complete a:
- peer worker advanced apprenticeship
- children, young people and families practitioner higher apprenticeship
- early intervention practitioner higher apprenticeship
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
You need to have experience to apply for training or jobs as a family support worker.
You can get experience by volunteering or finding paid work with:
- children's homes or youth projects
- nurseries
- family refuge centres
- probation services
- family community centres
- mental health services
You can find volunteering opportunities listed on Do It and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
You can apply for family support worker jobs if you have:
- experience working with children, young people or families
- a minimum of a level 3 qualification in childcare, social work, social care, counselling, youth work or education
Further information
You can find out more about careers in support work from Think Care Careers.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.