Fostering Family Support Worker - Belong Project

The Belong Therapeutic Hub is an innovative new service created to improve outcomes for children and young people currently living in residential or other alternative care outside Portsmouth. By bringing together therapeutic, social care and fostering expertise, the hub will identify and support children who may benefit from moving into stable, nurturing foster families.

This is an opportunity to become part of a new and developing service with a strong therapeutic ethos. You will have a central role in supporting children, foster carers and professionals, helping to strengthen relationships and promote stability, resilience and positive long-term outcomes

As a Family Support Worker within the Belong Therapeutic Hub, you will provide practical advice, guidance and support to children, foster carers and families throughout their journey with the service. You will manage a caseload and undertake direct work to identify needs, deliver targeted interventions and improve outcomes.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to support across a range of areas, including emotional wellbeing, behavioural challenges, family time, education and substance misuse. You will work restoratively and build on the strengths of children, families and foster carers, while representing the service at professional meetings, educational settings and community events.

You will also help create therapeutic environments in which children feel safe, understood and connected. The hub’s practice model is informed by PACE, meaning Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy, alongside Dyadic Developmental Practice and relationship-based approaches. A Child Psychologist will contribute to assessments, formulation, consultation, individual work and therapeutic planning as part of the wider team.

Applications are welcomed from experienced Family Support Workers or individuals with a related professional background, such as youth work, residential childcare, family intervention, education, therapeutic support, children's services, fostering services or other roles involving direct work with vulnerable children and families. We recognise that valuable skills and experience can be gained through a variety of professional pathways.

• A relevant qualification, such as NVQ Level 4, or equivalent experience
• Experience of working with families and delivering support interventions
• Knowledge of safeguarding, fostering and legislation relating to children
• An understanding of therapeutic parenting, child development and trauma-informed practice
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• The ability to assess needs and produce clear, accurate records and reports
• A collaborative approach to multidisciplinary and multi-agency working
• The ability to manage changing priorities and meet deadlines
• A flexible, positive and outcomes-focused approach
• A driving licence and access to transport, or the ability to travel across Portsmouth, is essential.
• The role will also require occasional evening and out-of-hours work.

Please download and read the full job profile attached below for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.

Hybrid Working - You will be required to work at least 3 working days in office.

Interview date: Interviews will be held on 4th December 2026

If you have any questions, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please email :
Sarah Smith at

Sara or Donna Parnum

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