Outreach Worker (Early Years) (2 posts) (Term-Time) (Fixed Term)

Job Description

The posts are fixed term until 27/03/2027

The posts are term-time, the salary will be pro-rata'd to the hours worked.

Empowering Families • Strengthening Relationships • Improving Outcomes

We are seeking a committed and skilled Whole Family Outreach Worker to join our team and contribute to improved outcomes for children and families across West Dunbartonshire. This role is central to strengthening family relationships, promoting wellbeing and ensuring parents and carers are equipped with the confidence and skills needed to support their children’s development and learning.

About the Role
The successful candidate will deliver both group-based and one‑to‑one support to parents and carers, offering guidance that enhances family wellbeing and promotes strong parent–child relationships. You will play a key role in helping families build resilience, develop new skills and access timely and appropriate support. This is a dynamic and rewarding position, ideally suited to someone who thrives in a varied, people‑focused role and is committed to making a lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities
*Supporting Families
*Provide opportunities that strengthen parent–child relationships and improve overall family wellbeing.
*Engage parents in supporting their children’s learning, development, and emotional health.
*Build parental confidence in accessing services and supporting their children’s needs effectively.

Problem Solving & Support Planning
*Work collaboratively with families and partner services to identify needs and plan appropriate supports.
*Signpost families to relevant agencies and community resources.
*Deliver parenting programmes and targeted interventions for children and families.

Partnership Working
*Facilitate effective interagency collaboration to ensure coordinated and impactful support.
*Liaise with external agencies to provide holistic, ongoing assistance.
*Develop strong outreach and home-link relationships with families.

Service Development
*Contribute to the development of documentation, protocols, and service improvements in collaboration with the link officer.
*Support local efforts to reduce the poverty‑related attainment gap through targeted family engagement.

Decision Making & Professional Judgement
*You will work closely with your link officer to ensure that families receive appropriate, timely support, using professional judgement to guide referrals, signposting and intervention planning.
*Working Relationships

Internal
*Collaborate with colleagues across services to identify and support vulnerable families.
*Deliver parenting support through group sessions and one‑to‑one work within community settings.

External
*Establish strong links with community organisations and support agencies.
*Assist families in accessing local facilities, community resources and ongoing support networks.

Most Challenging Aspect of the Role
The post involves working with families who may be experiencing complex or emotionally challenging circumstances. Resilience, empathy and the ability to maintain professional boundaries are essential in supporting families who may initially be hesitant or disengaged. Your ability to build trust and navigate these challenges will be critical to achieving positive, sustainable change.

Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking someone who is:
*Compassionate, patient, and family‑centred
*Skilled in relationship-building and effective communication
*Confident working both independently and collaboratively
*Motivated to improve outcomes for children and families
*Resilient and able to manage emotionally demanding situations

If you are committed to empowering families and wish to contribute to a forward‑thinking, supportive team, we encourage you to apply.

 

Requirements

This post is considered as Regulated Work with Children and Adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and as such membership with the PVG scheme is essential. Further details of this scheme can be found here.

Preferred applicants will be required to become members of the relevant PVG scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme update check prior to a formal offer being made by West Dunbartonshire Council.

Responsibilities

The employment for which you are applying is excepted from the provisions of section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order 1975. Applicants are, therefore, not statutorily entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are "spent" under the provisions of the Act. In the event of employment any failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action.

The Individual

The successful candidate will benefit from the following:

WDC was voted one of the top ten flexible employers and prides itself in providing flexible working to support work life balance. In addition to this there are also additional benefits:

• Access to the Local Government pension scheme (LGPS) with an employer’s contribution of at least 19.3% and all associated benefits
• A minimum of 25 days annual leave, increasing a day each year up to 35 days as well as 8 fixed public holidays each year
• Access to employee wellbeing supports including occupational health & counselling if ever you need help and support
For information about West Dunbartonshire Council please click on the following link and see why we are an employer of choice: About Us
More information on the benefits of working within West Dunbartonshire Council, can be found using the following link: Benefits of Working with us