Young Carers Family Worker

A Young Carer Worker supports children and young people who have a significant caring role for a family member with physical or mental health needs, disability, or substance misuse issues. The role involves identifying young carers, assessing their needs, and providing tailored support to help them balance their caring responsibilities with education, social life, and personal development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and engage with young carers through schools, community services, and referrals.
• Conduct assessments to understand the impact of caring responsibilities.
• Provide emotional support, advocacy, and practical advice, to help reduce the caring role if possible. 
• Organise group activities, peer support sessions, and respite opportunities.
• Liaise with schools and health professionals to ensure coordinated support.
• Promote awareness of young carers’ needs within the community and professional networks.
• Transition Support: Provide guidance during key life transitions (e.g., moving schools, starting college, entering employment) to ensure continuity of support and reduce anxiety.

Skills & Qualities:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Empathy and understanding of young people’s challenges.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Experience in youth work, social care, or education is beneficial.

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We: 

• provide essential services that support over 380,000 residents 
• work in partnership to make a real difference 
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities 
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive 

You will: 

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset 
• have access to a range of benefits and support 
• have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression 

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve. 

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application. 

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement. 

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us. 

Find out more about how to apply.