Family Support Worker
The Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4EQ26 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
20 April 2026 at 10am
Date listed
19 March 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
- £31,146.00 - £35,060.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 10, Point 24 - 29: £31,146 - £35,060 per annum (subject to experience)
Family Support Worker job summary
Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted and an appointment may be made before the closing date, therefore an early application is encouraged.
Salary: Grade 10, Point 24 - 29: £31,146 - £35,060 per annum (subject to experience)
Contract: Permanent, 37 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term time plus inset days)
We are seeking a committed and compassionate Family Support Worker to join our pastoral and safeguarding team. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference by supporting students and their families to overcome barriers to learning, improve attendance, and enhance wellbeing.
Working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and wider school staff, you will build strong relationships with families, provide practical support and guidance, and work in partnership with external agencies to ensure every student can thrive.
The successful candidate will:
- Build positive, supportive relationships with students and their families.
- Work proactively with families to improve attendance, engagement, and inclusion.
- Carry out home visits and provide tailored support to address barriers to education.
- Act as an advocate for families, helping them access services relating to health, housing, finance, and wellbeing.
- Work closely with the DSL, pastoral staff, and external agencies to safeguard and support students.
- Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings and case conferences.
- Support students through 1:1 and small group interventions.
- Assist in monitoring attendance data and maintaining accurate records and reports.
- Contribute to strategies that promote inclusion, positive behaviour, and student wellbeing.
We are looking for someone who:
- Holds a Level 3 qualification (or above) in a relevant field (e.g. childcare, social care, youth work, education).
- Has experience working with young people and families, particularly those who may be vulnerable.
- Has a good understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures.
- Demonstrates excellent communication, empathy, and relationship-building skills.
- Is organised, resilient, and able to manage a varied and demanding workload.
- Can work effectively with external agencies and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Holds a full driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
To find out more about the benefits of working for SAST, click here
For more information about our school, please click here to view our careers page.
We warmly welcome visits to the School. If you would like to arrange a tour, please contact Caroline Rabbetts, Office Manager, at CMR@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk or by phone at 01935 810101, who will be happy to assist you.
SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. In line with KCSIE guidance, this will be part of safer recruitment checks, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.
Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the person specification and the post is subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check and Children’s Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
SAST recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce and is committed to building a workforce which reflects diversity from the communities it serves. SAST values the contributions from all staff from a wide range of different backgrounds and actively seeks to promote an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and at the same time supports fair promotion and cultural acceptance. Under the provision of the Equality Act 2010 SAST welcomes applications from everyone and operates a recruitment process which is fair and does not discriminate against or disadvantage anyone because of their age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
This role is UK- based and your right to work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post is subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check and Children’s Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About The Gryphon School
- School type
- Academy, Church of England, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1555 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Gryphon School website
The Gryphon is a wonderful place to work and has a special atmosphere and feel. It became a founder member of SAST a multi-academy trust established in June 2017. The Good Schools Guide 2023 concludes that ‘A big school with a small school feel is exactly right. No child goes unnoticed and teachers seem to be genuinely motivated to see pupils progress to the best of their ability. An impressive capacity to cater for extremely different academic needs in a nurturing environment. No wonder it’s over-subscribed’.
We are an outward looking school with exceptional community links as well as strong relationships with other good and outstanding schools across the South West and nationally.
We are a comprehensive school serving a diverse community. Our high quality support staff make a real difference to our students. Teaching is often outstanding, and consistently at least good across all subjects and key stages. Teachers are provided with the resources to make lessons stimulating and practical and have excellent subject knowledge. They make sure students are very clear about what is demanded of them and how to improve. The School’s very positive entry in the Good School Guide describes pastoral care and discipline as ‘excellent’. Students are reflective, behave with great courtesy, and are heavily involved in working with staff to improve the school and the welfare of others.
The Gryphon gains high results for its students at both GCSE and A Level. Our large Sixth Form of 380 students is exceptional. We have an outstanding record of success in university entrance, including places at Oxford, Cambridge and other Russell Group universities, as well as for training places and apprenticeships.
Our 2023 GCSE exam results were, once again, excellent. 26 students achieved nine or more 7s, 8s and 9s with many staying on to attend The Gryphon Sixth Form.
Additionally, our A level results were excellent with 61 students receiving straight A, A* and B results including five students heading off to Oxford and Cambridge, and three students going on to study medicine.
In May 2022 our inspection as a Church School (SIAMS) judged us to be Excellent. Our most recent Ofsted visit, in June 2023, was very positive and confirmed our status as a “good school”. Our focus, which reflects our Church School status, is that we should be a “10:10” school; where students and staff experience life in all of its fullness. So for us education is more than just exam results – we place great value on the personal development of each student. We aim for them to leave school as well-rounded young people with a strong sense of what is socially, morally and culturally acceptable, and to feel that they have a contribution to make to the wider community. Digital learning is important at The Gryphon School including the use of mobile technology; we want our young people to use technology responsibly and to enhance their learning.
In summary, we are a true team with a great sense of pride in what we collectively achieve and we embrace the challenge for achievement to be even higher. Our special culture and ethos focuses on enabling students to be the best that they can, both personally and academically, supported by the tremendous work and care of all our staff. We continue to strive to be outstanding in all aspects of school life.
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