Family Support jobs in Walsall WS1

About Carers Trust Heart of England

We are a local charity supporting unpaid carers of all ages and people with care and support needs. We provide services, information, advice, and advocacy — ensuring carers and their families receive the right support when they need it most.

The Role

The Fair Futures for Young Carers Coordinator will lead the local delivery of the Fair Futures for Young Carers (FFYC) programme across Sandwell.

Employed and managed directly by Carers Trust Heart of England, the postholder will be based alongside the Sandwell Young Carers team, working collaboratively with their staff and drawing on their established relationships, local knowledge and expertise.

The role will work with schools, colleges, young carers and local partners to improve the identification and support of young carers across Sandwell. A key focus will be supporting education settings to develop sustainable whole-school approaches, improve staff awareness and progress through the Young Carers in Schools Award.

The postholder will also ensure that young carers' voices and lived experiences are central to the programme and contribute to wider systems change across education and local services.

This is a fixed term role until 31st March 2030, subject to continued programme funding.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Starting annual leave entitlement of 25 days, increasing with service to a maximum of 30 days (and Bank Holidays), plus your 'birtholiday'
• Pension contribution scheme
• Benefits platform offering flexible high street savings and discounts on top brands
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing platform
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• A supportive, values-led organisation that makes a real difference to carers’ lives and the people they care for.

*Please note that we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

School and Education Engagement

· Lead engagement with primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, alternative provision settings and Further Education providers across Sandwell.

· Develop and maintain positive working relationships with schools, colleges, Multi Academy Trusts and education partners.

· Build on existing relationships and networks established by Sandwell Young Carers while identifying and engaging new education settings.

· Promote the Fair Futures for Young Carers programme and encourage education settings to participate.

· Work with schools to strengthen the identification of young carers and develop clear pathways into appropriate local support.

· Support education settings to embed sustainable whole-school approaches to recognising and supporting young carers.

· Organise and support programme engagement events for schools and education partners.

Training and Young Carers in Schools Award

· Deliver young carer awareness training to education professionals, including school leaders, designated young carer leads, pastoral teams, safeguarding leads and teaching staff.

· Provide practical advice, resources and ongoing support to education settings participating in the programme.

· Support schools to understand and work towards the Young Carers in Schools Award.

· Provide guidance on Award requirements, evidence, policies, pupil voice, communications and whole-school practice.

· Maintain regular contact with participating schools to monitor progress, identify barriers and provide appropriate support.

· Share examples of good practice and learning across education settings.

Young Carer Voice and Co-production

· Ensure young carers lived experiences are embedded throughout programme planning, delivery and evaluation.

· Work alongside Sandwell Young Carers to build on existing participation opportunities and trusted relationships with young carers.

· Facilitate workshops, focus groups, surveys and other accessible participation activities.

· Enable young carers to identify priorities and influence how education settings recognise and support young carers.

· Support opportunities for young carers to engage with education leaders, local decision-makers and strategic stakeholders.

· Ensure participation activities are inclusive, safe, age appropriate and undertaken in accordance with safeguarding requirements.

Partnership and Systems Change

· Work closely and collaboratively with Sandwell Young Carers while maintaining clear accountability to CTHoE for programme delivery.

· Develop relationships with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, education services, health partners, voluntary and community organisations and other relevant stakeholders.

· Participate in local networks, meetings and strategic forums relating to young carers and education.

· Promote improved coordination between education settings and local young carer support.

· Identify opportunities to improve referral pathways, local practice and wider systems affecting young carers.

· Contribute to the development of a sustainable local approach that continues to benefit young carers beyond the programme.

Monitoring, Outcomes and Reporting

· Ensure programme activity is accurately recorded and contributes towards agreed FFYC outputs and outcomes.

· Monitor progress against programme KPIs, including engagement with education settings, training delivery, Award progression and young carer participation.

· Maintain accurate records and monitoring information in accordance with CTHoE requirements.

· Gather feedback from schools, young carers and stakeholders to demonstrate programme impact and inform continuous improvement.

· Identify and develop appropriate case studies, ensuring informed consent and compliance with safeguarding and data protection requirements.

· Provide regular progress reports and monitoring information to the CTHoE programme lead.

· Identify delivery risks or barriers promptly and contribute to appropriate mitigating actions.

· Contribute learning, evidence and good practice to the wider national Fair Futures for Young Carers programme.

Programme Outputs

The postholder will have a key role in achieving the agreed programme outputs between October 2026 and March 2030, including:

o 40–50 education settings engaged

o 3–5 Further Education providers engaged

o 25–35 schools receiving structured training and support

o 15–20 schools supported to apply for the Young Carers in Schools Award

o 50–75 young carers directly involved in voice, co-production and systems-change activity

Outputs will be monitored throughout the programme and reviewed in accordance with the requirements of the Fair Futures for Young Carers programme.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children and young people, families, education settings or within a related community/service environment.
• Experience of developing effective relationships with schools, colleges or other professional stakeholders.
• Experience of delivering training, presentations, workshops or group activities.
• Understanding of the challenges experienced by young carers and the potential impact of caring responsibilities on education, wellbeing and future opportunities.
• Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities when working with children and young people.

Desirable

• Experience of working specifically with young carers and their families.
• Knowledge or experience of the Young Carers in Schools Award.
• Knowledge of the education landscape within Sandwell.
• Experience of co-production or participation work with children and young people.
• Experience of working across statutory, education and voluntary sector partnerships.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with young people, education professionals and partner organisations.
• Ability to deliver engaging training and presentations to a range of audiences.
• Ability to organise and manage a varied workload independently, including engagement across multiple education settings.
• Ability to collect, maintain and report accurate monitoring and outcome information.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to contribute to reports, case studies and learning materials.
• Confident using Microsoft Office/365 and digital systems.

Desirable

• Adept at supporting organisational or systems change.
• Skilled in monitoring grant or contract-funded outcomes and KPIs.

Other

Essential

• Commitment to improving outcomes for young carers.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusive practice.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly across Sandwell.
• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evening activity where required.
• Reliable, self-motivated and able to work collaboratively as part of both CTHoE and wider partnership arrangements.

Pay: £25,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Store discount

Application question(s):

• Do you require visa sponsorship?
• Please briefly outline your experience that meets the requirements of this role and what skills, knowledge and qualities you feel you could bring to the position.
• Do you have a valid UK driving licence and your own vehicle for travel across the region?

Work Location: In person