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

About the Role

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.

The Ideal candidate

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.

You will need:

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 Sarah.Smith2@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or Donna Parnum Donna.parnum@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.

Application process

We strongly encourage candidates to add all Career and Education History to their application, as CVs are not reviewed as part of the shortlisting process.

As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.

We are a disability confident employer and have an Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it. Please note we are unable to offer Sponsorship for this role

Safeguarding

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.

You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.