Family Support Worker

The vacancy

Do you have experience supporting families in a health or social care setting? Are you confident working with babies, children, and young people with complex or palliative care needs? If so, you could be the person we're looking for.

Here at Rainbows Children’s Hospice, we provide specialist palliative care and end-of-life support to over 750 Babies, Children, and Young People living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, as well as approximately 3,000 people, including families, siblings, and carers, across the East Midlands. Simply put, we’re here to brighten short lives and support families, wherever they are.

We're expanding our Family Support team and have a new opportunity for a Family Support Worker (internally called a Universal Family Support Worker). In this vital role, you’ll help families access a wide range of universal support services and activities offered by Rainbows.

Location: Rainbows Hospice, Loughborough (with occasional travel across the East Midlands)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm (with occasional evening and weekend work for events)

About The Role

Some of the key responsibilities include (but not limited to):

1. Be a first point of contact for families not yet assigned to a named Rainbows worker
2. Offer emotional and practical support by phone
3. Connect families with peer support and wellbeing opportunities
4. Recommend families for a Holistic Needs Review when appropriate
5. Support our Community Hubs by helping to coordinate activities, transport, and attendance
6. Plan and deliver introductory Hospice tours for new families
7. Liaise with volunteers running our Keep in Touch service
8. Further responsibilities in the role can be found by downloading the Job Description.

Requirements

1. NVQ Level 2/3 (or equivalent) in a relevant field
2. Experience working with families in a health or social care setting
3. Experience supporting babies, children, or young people with complex or palliative care needs
4. Able to work independently and manage your time effectively
5. Skilled in offering emotional and practical support
6. Further requirements can be found by downloading the Person Specification.

Our Benefits Include

1. Free onsite parking at the Hospice, Lark Rise, Loughborough.
2. Eligibility to join blue light card discount scheme and Company Shop.
3. Healthcare Cashback plan.
4. Life Assurance.
5. 27 days holiday plus bank holidays.
6. Contributory pension scheme or Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme.
7. Affordable meals at the Hospice, Lark Rise, Loughborough.
8. Free Tea, Coffee and Fruit whilst at the Hospice.
9. Free access to an employee assistance programme.
10. Wellbeing support and access to Mental Health First Aiders.
11. Unofficial benefits: Fun events like Total Wipe Out, All staff away days, Guest visitors.

For further information about this role and the responsibilities please contact Sam Herrett, Family Support Lead, on sam.herrett@rainbows.co.uk.

To apply for the role please click ‘apply now’ to complete an online application form. If you require an alternative method of applying or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments further, please contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@rainbows.co.uk.

This role is subject to Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and barring Service Check) and pre-employment checks.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Equality, diversity & inclusion

Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People is committed to improving the quality of its services to all people, irrespective of race/ethnicity, disability, gender, religion or belief, age, or sexual orientation. Our objective is to deliver high quality services that are accessible, responsive, and appropriate to meet the diverse needs of different groups and individuals. As such, we will continue to take action to ensure that staff and volunteers employed by Rainbows Hospice are culturally aware and treat every person with dignity, respect, and fairness, in a way that is sensitively responsive to differences and similarities. Unlawful discrimination and other forms of exclusion have no place within Rainbows Hospice.

About Us

Rainbows cares for hundreds of families every year who have a baby, child or young person with a serious or terminal illness that means that their lives will be shorter than most.

We’ve been providing the highest level of professional holistic care and emotional support to babies, children, young people and their families since 1994. Our incredible team help to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and support their families to make the most of every precious moment, during life, through bereavement and beyond.

Our aim is to support every one of the thousands of babies, children and young people in the East Midlands, with a terminal or serious illness. To do this we’ve made it easier to access our services – wherever families are in our region. So, as well as providing end-of-life, short break care and bereavement support at our hospice, we also offer care and support at the point of need. Whether at our Lark Rise hospice, in the community, in hospital, or at home.

Simply put, we’re here to brighten short lives, and support families, wherever they are.

When you join Team Rainbows, not only will you receive a host of benefits including free parking, health cash plan and subsidised meals - but you’ll be making a real difference to the lives of families across the East Midlands who are going through the toughest of times.

Although there can be some sad times, Rainbows is a fun, dynamic and caring place to work. Whether you’re based at the Hospice, home or out in the community, you’ll join a team with a can-do attitude, ready to make a positive impact on the world of hospice care.

Our Vision

To become a household name across the East Midlands for the outstanding care we provide, wherever it’s needed.

Our Mission

Whether in our hospice, in hospital, or at home, we deliver unrivalled care to seriously and terminally ill babies, children, young people and their families. Our purpose is to make every moment of their short lives the best it can be.

Our Vision Is To Create The “Rainbows Experience” Wherever You Are. Our Mission Is That Across The East Midlands We Will

1. Transform care for those babies, children and young people who have a life-limiting or life-threatening condition
2. Relieve the pain and symptoms associated with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions
3. Support every baby, child and young person to achieve their full potential
4. Create memories for families to treasure
5. Provide comfort and compassion at the time of and following the death of a baby, child or young person.

Across The East Midlands We Will

1. transform care for those children and young people who have a life-limiting or life-threatening condition
2. relieve the pain and symptoms associated with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions
3. support every child and young person to achieve their full potential
4. create memories for families to treasure
5. provide comfort and compassion at the time of and following the death of a child or young person.

Our values

Because WE CARE, We Are

One Team

Working together with fairness and respect.

People Centred

Championing inclusivity, compassion, and clarity.

Aim High

Adapting, learning, and sharing our expertise.

Own It

Focused, committed, and accountable.

Benefits

Health cash plan/EAP

Free on-site parking

Life assurance

Subsidised meals