Family Support Worker

Larwood School, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 5BZ

15 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  20 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  5 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £33,844.00 - £36,464.00 Annually (FTE)

Family Support Worker job summary

About us

Larwood School is a dynamic and successful primary special school for boys and girls with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. As part of Brighter Futures Educational Trust, we are committed to providing an inclusive, nurturing and supportive environment in which every child is encouraged to achieve, believe, expect and enjoy.

All our pupils have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and benefit from our highly structured, personalised approach to learning and development.

We are proud of our innovative and continually evolving curriculum, which is designed to engage, inspire and meet the individual needs of our pupils.

Following our Ofsted inspection in November 2022, we were judged to be Good in all areas, with Outstanding for Behaviour.

Our school is exceptionally well resourced, with small class sizes of no more than nine pupils. Each teaching group benefits from a dedicated teacher and teaching assistant, ensuring that pupils receive the individual attention and support they need.

We offer a wide range of specialist provision and interventions, including bespoke support programmes, counselling, animal-assisted therapy and an interactive thematic curriculum.

We also provide outreach support to primary schools across Stevenage, sharing our expertise in behaviour management and effective support strategies.

All staff receive training in Hertfordshire STEPS, our approach to positive behaviour management and de-escalation.

The opportunity

We are seeking to appoint a passionate, dedicated and resilient SEN / Family Support Worker to become an integral part of our team.

This is a vital role within our school, supporting pupils with social, emotional and behavioural needs and working closely with their families to secure the best possible outcomes.

You will act as an important link between home, school and external agencies, helping families access the guidance, support and services they need.

Building positive, trusting relationships with parents and carers will be central to this role. You will need excellent communication and organisational skills, a compassionate approach and the confidence to work with families who may be experiencing challenging circumstances.

Above all, you will share our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed and that strong partnerships between home, school and other professionals can make a lasting difference.

Key responsibilities

The precise scope of the role will be agreed with the successful candidate. However, the post is expected to include the following responsibilities:

Family and parental support

• Build positive, supportive and trusting relationships with pupils, parents and carers.
• Act as a key link between families and school, addressing issues that may affect learning, behaviour and wellbeing.
• Meet with individual families to provide advice, guidance and signposting to appropriate support services.
• Actively promote and facilitate parental engagement in children's learning, development and education.
• Provide families with relevant information about local support services, statutory provision and available guidance.
• Support families through challenging circumstances, ensuring they feel listened to, valued and supported.

Multi-agency working and safeguarding

• Liaise effectively with external professionals and agencies to ensure appropriate support and provision for pupils and families.
• Organise, coordinate and facilitate family-based meetings, including preparing relevant paperwork and maintaining accurate records.
• Contribute to Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) reviews and support the implementation of appropriate provision.
• Undertake the role of Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), overseeing safeguarding arrangements for pupils in pathways and during holiday periods.
• Promote effective information sharing between school, families and external agencies, maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are dealt with promptly and in accordance with school policies and procedures.

Admissions, transitions and communication

• Support elements of the school admissions process, ensuring relevant information is gathered and shared with staff before pupils are admitted.
• Promote positive transitions for pupils, considering individual needs and identifying appropriate transition programmes and support.
• Ensure communication between home and school is effective, timely and accessible, using a range of communication methods.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date records and share relevant information appropriately.
• Attend Senior Leadership Team meetings when required.
• Promote the active and purposeful involvement of other professionals to secure high-quality provision and appropriate care for pupils.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who:

• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage positively with children, parents and carers.
• Has experience of supporting children with social, emotional and behavioural needs.
• Has a sound understanding of the challenges faced by children with special educational needs.
• Has experience of working collaboratively with families and external agencies.
• Understands the importance of effective multi-agency working and information sharing.
• Can build positive, trusting relationships with families, including those experiencing challenging circumstances.
• Has experience of supporting children and families through periods of transition.
• Is organised, proactive and able to manage competing priorities.
• Can maintain confidentiality and demonstrate sound professional judgement.
• Is resilient, flexible and able to respond positively to the changing needs of pupils and families.
• Shares our commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and improving outcomes for every child.

Essential experience: Experience and knowledge of special educational needs and EHCP processes, including involvement in EHCP reviews, are essential for this role.

Experience of working in a special school or supporting pupils with SEMH needs would be an advantage. However, candidates with relevant experience in mainstream education or family support settings are also encouraged to apply.

What we can offer you

At Larwood School, we recognise that our staff are our greatest asset. We are committed to supporting your wellbeing, professional development and career progression.

As part of our team, you will benefit from:

• Health and wellbeing: Direct access to a doctor at a time and location that suits you through Educational Mutual.
• Staff recognition: A dedicated attendance reward scheme.
• Additional support: Access to counselling and physiotherapy, subject to scheme conditions.
• Professional development: A dedicated training programme and a wide range of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities.
• Career progression: Support and opportunities to undertake further study, including Master's degree programmes.

You will also join a supportive, dedicated and enthusiastic team who are committed to making a real difference to the lives of children and their families.

Join our team

If you are passionate about supporting children with additional needs, building strong relationships with families and helping pupils achieve the very best outcomes, we would love to hear from you.

This is an opportunity to take on a rewarding and influential role in a school where relationships, wellbeing and individual achievement really matter.

Come and be part of Larwood School and Brighter Futures Educational Trust, where together we can make a difference and help every child achieve, believe, expect and enjoy.

Safeguarding and safer recruitment

Larwood School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils. We expect all staff to share this commitment.

All appointments are subject to rigorous safer recruitment procedures. Successful applicants will be required to undergo appropriate child protection screening, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and checks with previous employers, in accordance with statutory safeguarding requirements.

We are committed to creating a safe, secure and nurturing environment where every child is protected, valued and supported.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Larwood School is committed to safeguarding the welfare of its students and all staff are carefully vetted. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and DBS checks.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Larwood School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 5 to 11
• Size: 151 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Larwood School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/larwood-school-stevenage

Larwood School is a dynamic and successful primary special school with an innovative and constantly evolving curriculum for boys and girls with social, emotional and mental health related difficulties.

We wish to appoint a passionate, dedicated and determined classroom teacher for January 2024 or sooner if possible.

All of our pupils have Education Health Care Plans, but thrive in our nurturing and well structured environment. You will need to be resilient and ready for the challenges that we face with our pupils. However, you can be assured that your work will transform lives!

We were judged as ‘good’ by Ofsted in all areas during inspection in November 2022 and 'outstanding' for Behaviour. We became an academy school in Nov 2016 and are the lead school in a 2-school multi academy trust. We also provide outreach support for primary schools within Stevenage, focusing on behaviour management support strategies.

Class sizes are small, usually no more than 10 pupils. We are superbly resourced. All teaching groups have a teacher and teaching assistant to work with pupils.

Our constant challenge is to review and alter our practice to ensure the very best outcomes for our pupils. We have a wide range of initiatives in place from bespoke intervention support, counselling, animal assisted therapy to an interactive thematic curriculum which engages and inspires our pupils.

All staff are trained in the use of Hertfordshire Steps as a behaviour management system.

We have a range of well-being initiatives and numerous opportunities for growth and development. This includes:

Financial benefits such as Healthcare Cash Plan and access to a range of discounts with various stores and activities via Medicash
Direct access to a doctor at a time/place that suits you using Medicash
Free staff fitness session (on site) each week
Dedicated staff attendance reward scheme
Access to counselling and physiotherapy should you need it (subject to conditions)
Dedicated training program
Varied CPD opportunities
Support for Masters degree study.

School location

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