Family Support Practitioner (Antenatal ​/ Postnatal Services

Family Support Practitioner (Antenatal / Postnatal Services).

Salary:£26,006.84 per annum, pro rata.

Location:Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

Contract/

Hours:

Permanent, Part-time (working 34 hours a week).

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays pro rata, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave.
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages.
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover.
• Staff discounts and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers’ discounts.

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 687,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

Ballymena & Little Steps Sure Start provides a range of health, play & learning and parenting support services to children, from pre-birth up to four years, and their families. The project comprises a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team and works in close partnership with a range of local Statutory, Voluntary and Community service providers to promote effective service delivery in response to the needs of the expectant parents, children and families across the designated Sure Start areas.

Sure Start services are provided from 3 centre bases across the localities, within the home setting or through outreach settings.

As a Family Support Practitioner in this role, you will work with families right from the beginning of their parenting journey, from the antenatal period through to the postnatal stage. The role involves facilitating antenatal and postnatal services, including antenatal education programmes, Baby Club and Breastfeeding Support, alongside providing tailored support to families through home visits and telephone contacts where required.

You will help parents build confidence, strengthen parent-infant attachment and give their baby the best possible start in life. You will also have access to a range of professional development opportunities, alongside Action for Children's extensive learning and development resources.

• Deliver and support a range of antenatal and postnatal services, engaging families from pregnancy through to the early stages of parenthood.
• Depending on experience, qualifications and service need, the post holder may also facilitate specialist activities such as Infant Massage, Baby Yoga and/or Infant Reflexology, with training opportunities available.
• Provide compassionate, strengths-based support to parents during the perinatal period, recognising the unique opportunities and challenges this stage of family life can present.
• Undertake home visits and provide tailored one-to-one support to expectant and new parents, promoting parental wellbeing, early attachment and positive parent-infant relationships.
• Work in close partnership with Trust Midwifery Services, Health Visiting Teams and other relevant professionals to ensure coordinated support and positive outcomes for families and babies.
• Develop strong working relationships within the project's Health Team, including working closely alongside the Sure Start Health Visitor to identify and respond to the needs of families.
• Support families to access centre-based and community services, providing information, advice, signposting and referrals to appropriate statutory and voluntary services where required.
• Assess families' needs and develop support plans…