Hospital Family Support WorkerNHS

Job summary

We're looking for a kind and compassionate person to join our Family Support team supporting families whilst they are in hospital in London and Surrey. You'll support families whose child has cancer or a life-challenging condition offering emotional and practical support when it's most needed helping families feel less alone during some of their most difficult times.

Your hours will be spread across four days. You will also have regular peer support, clinical supervision, and opportunities to develop your skills. You'll be part of a small, friendly, and passionate team who look out for each other just as much as we look out for the families we support.

The role is about being calm, empathetic, building trust, being there when it matters, and making sure families know they're not alone.

Main duties of the job

As a Hospital Family Support Worker, you'll split your time between a number of families, visiting them whilst they are inpatients on the ward or as an outpatient, along with keeping in touch with them when they are not in hospital via phone, email or text. Whether sitting with a parent at their child's hospital bedside, supporting a teenager on the ward, along with collaborating with hospital teams and Momentum community colleagues to deliver a seamless and impactful service, ensuring continuity of support beyond hospital stays... you'll make sure families know they're not facing this journey alone.

Job description

Working in Hospital

Visit your assigned hospitals across London and Surrey, including Royal Marsden Sutton, Evelina London SE1 (when the Primary Treatment Centre moves from The Royal Marsden), Kingston Hospital, St Georges Tooting, St Peters Chertsey, Royal Surrey Guildford, East Surrey Hospital - Redhill and Epsom Hospital regularly, in line with need, to support existing Momentum families and meet new referrals. This will be based on service need, and you will not be required to attend all hospitals each week.

You will also be visiting families in selective Intensive Care Units, during times of critical illness and uncertainty.

Build strong, positive relationships with hospital staff, and other professionals so you become a trusted part of the team on the paediatric wards, including attending Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings, sharing professional knowledge of our families, maintaining accurate records and reporting back as required.

Deliver presentations in hospital to professionals to raise awareness of Momentum.

Be a friendly and approachable presence for professionals and families alike, clearly explaining what Momentum can offer.

Follow hospital policies on infection control, dress code, and safeguarding at all times.

Supporting Families

Provide compassionate, age-appropriate support to families, children, and young people of all ages and backgrounds.

Offer emotional and practical support tailored to each familys situation, listening closely and responding with care from the moment theyre referred.

Manage your own caseload, prioritising contact based on need and making sure families always feel supported.

Connect families to relevant services - such as therapies, respite breaks, and family experiences which includes trusted external organisations when needed.

Recognise the needs of siblings, grandparents, and carers, helping them to find the right support too.

When required, support families under palliative care with compassion and sensitivity.

Work closely with our Echoes team to ensure bereaved families transition to their specialist support smoothly and with care.

Make sure every family feels part of Momentum for as long as they need us.

Professional Responsibilities

Refer families into Momentums support service, in line with the criteria required for referral.

Keep clear, accurate and confidential records of your work on our secure database (Salesforce)

Work independently, in line with our operational plan and report back to Senior Family Support Worker.

Regular and timely collaboration within the Family Support Team (Hospital & Community) managing and reporting on caseload.

Share stories, photos, and anonymised family updates (with consent) to help the charitys fundraising and communications.

Join team meetings, clinical supervision, and training (some virtual, some at our office near Hampton Court Station, Surrey)

Act promptly on any safeguarding concerns in line with Momentums policies.

Follow all guidelines for lone working, safeguarding, data protection, and health & safety.

Take on other tasks that help us deliver our family support services for example managing family events i.e. family days out.

Offer will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check prior to employment start date. All staff have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults. The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

About us

We support families across London, Surrey, and Sussex whose children are facing cancer, a life-challenging condition or those facing the heartbreak of the death of their child. We're there whatever the outcome, for as long as needed, so that no family has to cope alone.

The charity was founded in 2004 by our now Founder and Honorary President and has grown enormously over that time. We currently have partnerships with eight hospitals who refer families to us for our support, which ranges from therapies and counselling, to respite holidays and special family experiences.

We're on a mission to help many more families with seriously ill children to know that they are not alone, and we'll need brilliant and talented people to share our ambition and make it happen.