Family Support Worker Employment Contract UK

Responsibilities reflected in the contract

• Build purposeful relationships with referred families.
• Agree and deliver practical support actions.
• Complete safe home and community visits.
• Coordinate schools health and specialist referrals.
• Record progress risk and safeguarding concerns.

A realistic working scenario

On a morning visit to a client home the Family Support Worker follows the care plan in the care planning system, supports mobility with agreed equipment and PPE, records care and handover notes, and notices a safeguarding disclosure and a missed medication dose. The worker documents the disclosure in safeguarding records, logs the missed dose in the medication record, and escalates both immediately to the registered manager or service lead for action.

Outputs to agree

• Updated entries in the care planning system and daily handover notes that reflect delivered support and changes in need.
• Safeguarding record entries and referral summary submitted to the registered manager or service lead.
• Medication support records and incident record for missed or incorrect doses.
• Handover briefings or written notes for next shift, including risk or mobility changes.
• Clear family communication logs where authorised and necessary for continuity of care.

Records and evidence

• Care planning system entries for planned and delivered support, including mobility and PPE used.
• Handover notes summarising tasks completed, risks identified and actions required.
• Medication support records that show time, dose supported, and name of Family Support Worker.
• Incident records for missed doses, falls, deterioration or other untoward events.
• Safeguarding records documenting disclosures, immediate actions and escalation to the registered manager or service lead.
• Care plans.

Reporting relationship

Typically reports to Registered Manager, Service Manager, Team Leader or Care Coordinator. Confirm the employer's actual reporting structure in the builder.

Authority and escalation

• Family Support Workers follow care plans and delegated authority; they may support medication only as authorised by medication procedures and must not alter prescriptions or give clinical advice beyond training. They must escalate safeguarding disclosures, deterioration, missing medication or incidents to the registered manager or service lead immediately. They can adjust routine task sequencing for dignity and safety but must record changes in the care planning system and notify the registered manager or service lead when care-plan departures affect risk or outcomes.
• Obtain approval before committing expenditure, changing contractual commitments or making regulated or staffing decisions outside the assigned role.

Tools and systems

• Care record systems.
• Rostering systems.
• Medication records where authorised.
• Moving and handling equipment where trained.
• Secure communication tools.

Workplace context

• Care home, community care, client home or agreed care settings.

Training and certification

• Complete employer-required safeguarding training.
• Complete employer-required health and safety training.

Contract priorities

• Follow documented care plans in the care planning system and act only within delegated authority.
• Protect dignity, privacy and safety; record disclosures in safeguarding records and escalate to the registered manager or service lead.
• Keep medication support records complete and log any missed or refused doses as incidents.
• Produce accurate handover notes and care records for continuity between shifts.
• Use approved mobility equipment and PPE and report equipment faults to the registered manager or service lead.

Information the employer should prepare

• the families referral criteria and service model
• the caseload visit frequency and travel area
• the lone-work safeguarding and emergency controls
• the consent information-sharing and case systems
• the financial practical and specialist-support boundaries