Dorset Council
Family Support Worker at Dorset Centre of Excellence
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Are you passionate about supporting children, families, and communities to thrive?
At Coombe House School, we are seeking a compassionate and committed Family Support Worker to join our dedicated team. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a genuine difference by strengthening relationships between home and school and supporting families to overcome barriers to learning, attendance, and wellbeing.
About The Role
Working closely with our Head of Safeguarding, AP, Welfare, and Attendance, you will provide early intervention and targeted support to pupils and their families within our therapeutic thinking environment. You’ll act as a key link between home and school - building trusting relationships, offering practical and emotional support, and helping families access the right services at the right time. This is primarily a school-based role, with some outreach work including home visits and working alongside external agencies.
Key responsibilities
- Build strong, trusting relationships with parents, carers, and pupils
- Provide early help and targeted family support interventions
- Work collaboratively with safeguarding, pastoral, and therapeutic teams
- Develop and lead support plans for children and families
- Support pupils with transitions and emotional wellbeing
- Liaise with external agencies and attend professional meetings
- Promote attendance, engagement, and positive outcomes for pupils
About You
We are looking for someone who:
- Has experience working with children and families, particularly with SEMH, ASC, or complex needs
- Understands trauma-informed and relational approaches
- Is confident working both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Communicates effectively with a wide range of stakeholders
- Is compassionate, resilient, and committed to making a difference
- Holds a relevant qualification (or is willing to work towards one)
- Has a full driving licence (essential for home visits)
What Coombe House School Can Offer You
- Royal London Pension Scheme (10% employers’ contribution)
- Competitive salary
- Continuous professional development and training
- Health Care Plan after probation period - claim back costs towards dental check-ups, eye tests, prescription charges, and therapies
- Access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme
- A workplace set in beautiful surroundings
- Use of leisure facilities (gym and swimming pool) at specific times
- Highly supportive leadership team, colleagues, and working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of other SEN Specialists
- The opportunity to play an integral part in the next phase of the school’s unique journey
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22 hours per week, all-year round. Working Monday to Friday (flexible non-working day), between 12.30 – 19.00 (average 5.5 hours a day across 4 days). Actual salary: £19,063 – £21,056 (FTE £32,061 – £35,412).
Deadline for applications: 12 July 2026
Interviews: TBC
For any queries, please contact Claire Taylor (Assistant HR Manager) on 01747 449 858 (or [email protected])
We will not accept speculative CVs through agencies for this appointment. Direct applications only. Please see the job description & person specification for further information as well as visiting the school’s website - https://coombehouseschool.org.uk
Further Information
Dorset Centre of Excellence values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Government's safer recruitment guidelines.
The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements.
The salary quoted is the annual salary for the position at the time of advert. The salary will be paid in equal monthly instalments and will be adjusted if leaving part way through the school year to ensure the correct salary is received for the work completed in an academic year.
This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.
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This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Dorset Centre of Excellence will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. 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.
About Us
Our school
Coombe House School is an independent special school for pupils aged 5–19 with SEMH, ASC, and associate needs, all with EHCPs. We take a therapeutic, relationship-based approach where behaviour is understood as communication.
We believe passionately in supporting and nurturing our pupils as well as aspiring to provide them with outstanding and creative learning opportunities. At Coombe House, our work is underpinned by our core values of kindness, belonging, and ambition. You’ll be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team committed to helping every young person succeed - academically, socially, and emotionally.
Coombe House School is located at the eastern edge of Shaftesbury. The school enjoys a secluded setting within its grounds (55 acres).
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