Family Hub Navigator

2 years Fixed Term Contract

Reading Borough Council is looking for Family Hub Navigators to join our growing Family Help Service. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in our Family Hubs, acting as the first point of contact for families and helping them access the support they need to thrive.

As a Family Hub Navigator, you will work directly with families, supporting them to identify their strengths, understand their needs and access a wide range of services and community resources. Through a strengths-based approach, you will help prevent issues from escalating and improve outcomes for children and families.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

You will be part of a welcoming and supportive Family Hub team, providing information, advice and guidance to families with a range of emerging and additional needs. You will help coordinate support pathways, work alongside partner agencies and ensure families receive timely and effective support.

A key focus of the role is supporting families with children aged 0-5, promoting school readiness, child development and positive family outcomes. You will also play an important role in supporting families experiencing financial hardship through the administration of the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

About the role

You will be part of a welcoming and supportive Family Hub team, providing information, advice and guidance to families with a range of emerging and additional needs. You will help coordinate support pathways, work alongside partner agencies and ensure families receive timely and effective support.

A key focus of the role is supporting families with children aged 0-5, promoting school readiness, child development and positive family outcomes. You will also play an important role in supporting families experiencing financial hardship through the administration of the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

What you’ll do:

• Act as a welcoming first point of contact for children, young people and families.

• Undertake strengths-based conversations to identify needs and desired outcomes.

• Help families access universal, targeted and specialist services.

• Support families to build resilience and develop sustainable solutions to challenges.

• Carry out home visits, outreach work and community-based support.

• Work closely with schools, health services, community organisations and partner agencies.

• Support the early identification of SEND and developmental needs.

• Coordinate access to specialist professionals and services.

• Lead on assessments and applications for the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

• Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to service performance and improvement activities

About you

We're looking for individuals who are passionate about supporting families and improving outcomes for children and young people.

You will have:

• A Level 3 qualification (or equivalent experience) in Children's Services, Family Support, Early Help, Youth Work, Education, Health, Social Care or a related field.

• Experience of working directly with children, young people and families.

• Experience within Family Hubs, Early Help, Family Support, Children's Services or a similar environment.

• Experience of working in partnership with a range of agencies and professionals.

• Knowledge of child development, school readiness and early signs of SEND or neurodivergence.

• Experience supporting families experiencing hardship, poverty or social disadvantage.

• Excellent communication, relationship-building and organisational skills.

• The ability to assess needs, develop support plans and coordinate services effectively.

• A commitment to strengths-based, family-led practice and safeguarding children

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave

• A wide range of flexible working opportunities

• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)

• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted

• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work

• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Michelle.Williams@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date:Sunday 11th October 2026
Interview Date:To be confirmed
Interview Process:To be confirmed