Short Break Worker

Reading Borough Council is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Short Break Worker to join our Children and Young People with Disabilities Team. This rewarding role offers the opportunity to work directly with children and families, helping them access support, short break provision and services that improve outcomes and enhance family life.

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.

About the role

You will work closely with children, parents, carers and partner agencies to assess needs, coordinate support and ensure families receive the right help at the right time. Working as a Lead Professional, you will support children with disabilities and their families to achieve positive outcomes and access appropriate services.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a caseload of children and families receiving short break services.

• Assessing needs and reviewing support plans to ensure services remain effective and outcome-focused.

• Supporting families to access direct payments, managed accounts, personal assistants and short break opportunities.

• Organising and chairing Child in Need (CIN) and multi-agency meetings.

• Presenting cases to CYPD Resource and Short Breaks Panels.

• Working collaboratively with schools, health services, social care teams and voluntary organisations.

• Ensuring children's voices, wishes and feelings are heard and reflected in all plans and interventions.

• Maintaining accurate case records and contributing to quality assurance processes.

• Identifying safeguarding concerns and taking appropriate action to protect children and young people

About you

We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting children with disabilities and who can build positive relationships with families and professionals alike.

You will have:

• A good general education, ideally NVQ Level 3, A Levels or equivalent.

• Experience working with children and young people in either a paid or voluntary capacity.

• Experience working with families, parents and carers.

• Experience within safeguarding environments and supporting children with complex needs or disabilities.

• Experience completing assessments, plans and reviews.

• Strong communication, organisation and relationship-building skills.

• The ability to manage a varied caseload and coordinate multi-agency support.

• Confidence using IT systems, including Microsoft Office and case management systems.

• A resilient, creative and solution-focused approach to supporting families

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 James.Joyce@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 18th October 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed