How Do I Start My Career as a Family Support Worker?

Author: Rachel Newcombe

Mrs Zoby Hussain asks

I have a degree in Childhood Studies/Educational studies and I have been working with children for the last 6 years and I want to work as a family support worker or something related to social work. I wanted to know how I go about it. Would I have to study further or could I use the qualifications I already have?

Thanks for your question. Although you don’t say exactly what work with children you’ve been doing for the last six years, on the surface it sounds like you should be in a good position to move onto working as a family support worker.

Most family support worker jobs insist that applicants have experience, either through paid or voluntary work, with working with children and families. It’s a definite bonus if you’ve got experience or qualifications through working in social work, but other relevant experience could be gained through working:

In children’s homes.
At children’s nurseries.
In probation services.
At family refuge centres.
In family community centres.
In mental health services.
At youth work projects.

In addition to relevant experience, many jobs also require qualifications, although there may be the option of studying for extra qualifications alongside doing the job. Some of the qualifications that are relevant to the job include:

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NVQ levels 2, 3 and 4 in Children's Care, Learning and Development.
NVQ levels 2, 3 and 4 in Health and Social Care.
CACHE Certificate or Diploma in Child Care and Education.
BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development.

Many employers actively encourage further study and may suggest you work towards qualifications such as a foundation degree in Professional Studies in Family support, a postgraduate certificate or degree in Child Protection and Family Support or a BTEC HNC in Advanced Practice in Work with Children and Families.

Whether or not the degree you already have will be accepted as being enough for the job depends in part on what topics it actually covered – if there wasn’t much of a focus on family support, it may not be quite so relevant. Yet the experience you have may help balance things out.

If you’ve got your heart set on pursuing a career as a family support worker, then the best bet would be to contact relevant organisations in your area and ask exactly what qualifications and experience they require. If the experience you have isn’t quite apt, then there could be the possibility of volunteering to shadow a current family support worker as they go about their job to gain extra skills.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

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Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Childcare Career Finder lets you tell us what draws you to working with children and we will match you with the UK careers or volunteering roles that fit you best. Try it now →

Showing 20 of 105 questions

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WorkingWithKids Editor 11/06/2026 at 9:15 am

@w Your life experience counts for a lot in this field, so don't be put off by the lack of formal qualifications. Have a look at entry level roles like Family Support Assistant with your local council, or volunteering with Home-Start, which often leads to paid work. A Level 3 Diploma in Working with Children, Young People and Families is worth considering too, and many employers will fund it once you're in post. Your kinship fostering background will be a real asset on applications.

w 27/03/2024 at 10:26 pm

Hi I am currently working as a Bank Manager for the past 30 years and I am taking VR. I want a complete change of career and would love to work in family support I have two grown up children that have done extremely well and I am so proud of. Back in 2019 I fostered my two nephews as their parents became involved in drugs and I was desperate to help them the oldest one is now at Bristol University and the youngest is still with me. I have no qualifications but I have passion drive and determination to help families and children deserve a normal life. back in 2019 I fostered my two nephews as well

Ness 09/10/2023 at 10:04 pm

I’m 41 with a whole host of life experiences involving positive parenting courses attended , I have children with adhd ASD an a lot of difficult experiences and would like to use these skills I have learnt to help others I have no qualifications as in childcare or health care although I have had past work with elderly and disabled adults so what qualifications would I need to go along my life experience would I need to become a family support worker

EMPRESSB 09/10/2023 at 12:16 pm

Hi
I've been working with children for 20 years plus both childminding and in a nursery school.
I've always been interested in becoming a family worker or even a play therapist.
Please can you give me some advice on how I can go about getting started.

EMPRESSB 09/10/2023 at 12:10 pm

Hi
I've been working with children for the 20 plus years both childminding and in a nursery school at present I'm a childminder.
I've always been interested in becoming a family worker or even a play therapist. Please can you advise me on how will I go about getting into the family worker's role.

Dee 26/07/2021 at 8:22 am

Hello,
I am looking at changing career and becoming a family support worker. I have started volunteering for a family support charity. I have been accepted onto a level 3 technical certificate health and social care course. My other option is to start on a online Athe level 3 Health and Social Care diploma. Which is my best option?

Dee 24/07/2021 at 9:52 am

Hi I am looking at changing career . I am volunteering for a family support charity and have been offered a place on a Health and Social Care care level 3 technical certificate course. I have also been looking at on line health and social care course athe level 3 diploma .which would be the most successful course to get employment as a family support worker

Stac 29/11/2020 at 2:12 pm

I have a level 3 in health and social care
I've recently been helping a friend to regain contact with his son, I have found it really interesting as a job to go forward in. But I'm stuck on how to go about it as a job like what profession it would be under etc

nic 02/10/2020 at 8:34 pm

im currently a Childminder, ive been doing this for 11 years now and as much as I love the children, I need a change. I have my NVQ level 3 in childcare, learning and development. Ive also worked in a nursery for 6 years. What course's/ experience would I need to be become a children's out reach worker? Thankyou

Lauren 18/08/2020 at 6:50 pm

Hi i am 17 and i want to know what qualifications i will need to become a family social worker. i am starting my second year of college in September doing a level 3 health and social work course, i will be going university in 2021 hoping to study social work, am i choosing the right course for the career i want to do?

Tracey 23/04/2020 at 9:16 am

Hi. I have worked as a early years practitioner for over 20 years both in schools in the UK and Service children's Education overseas I now work as a pupil support worker with send and mostly SEMH children in a very deprived area. I also have a lot of experience of chronic mental health with a close family member. Now I'm back in the UK I would like to start a new career working in the community with children and families. I have a level 3 diploma in Children and Young People's Workforce (QCF), Open University certificate in Health and Social Care and also Mental Health and Distress.
Thank you. Tracey

Chloedevine 19/04/2020 at 1:54 am

Hi! I would appreciate any advice. I’m really wanting to become a family support worker. Either in a school or even in a prison. I have absolutely no idea how to go about this. Any advice would be appreciated. I’m 18, have GCSES, but that’s it. I am open to doing online courses & thought maybe I could approach any schools nearby asking to volunteer etc.

Bee 24/02/2020 at 2:51 pm

Hi. I am wanting to get more involved in outreach work. I'm a qualified nursey nurse at level 3 and i would love to be able to transition over into outreach. Any information would be great. I'm based I. South tyneside

N/A 24/02/2020 at 12:44 pm

Looking for work, maybe part time or sessional. I have NVQ Level 3 Early Years and various experiences.

Chez 29/01/2020 at 10:40 pm

Hi, I am thinking of a career in family support, I have been out of work for a couple of years after having children myself, I have recently had involvement via family support after leaving a domestic abusive marriage and am currently doing a you, me and mum course and feel that a role in family support and being able to run the same courses would be so rewarding after being on the other end

Pauline 16/01/2020 at 10:21 am

I would like to pursue the course of a Family Support worker am doing voluntary on children between 13-18 in Watford what courses do I look out for and and which Colleges or university does them

Kiki 07/01/2020 at 2:17 pm

I would like a career change from being a class room teacher for 15 years in primary education and 14 of after school homework assistance of children in primary school whose parents either travel a lot due to work or come home late from work. Am looking for a child support job looking after children in orphange homes or rehabilitation centres. I have a Diploma in education , a degree in Special Needs and am currently doing a post graduate degree in Child Sensitive and Social Policies and will graduate in October this 2020
I have astrong desire to help children respecting ,protecting and fulfilling their needs and rights as young children hence I would like a chance to fulfill my goal in this area.
Am currently a volunteer care giver at Island Hospicein Zimbabwe and I once volunteered at nursery school in our neighbourhood for 6 months in 2018.

Rhianne 05/10/2019 at 9:59 pm

Hi, I am currently studying for my early years foundation degree but I want to get into family support work, would the 16 hours be counted as a support worker or would they still need to be within an early years setting?
Thank you

Becca 02/10/2019 at 6:14 pm

Hi, I’m 29 and have a real passion to support families. I’ve worked in a nursery for 4 years and worked as a family worker in a church for 4 years. I also have a BA hons in Early Childhood Studies. I would love to pursue a career in supporting children and their families and would love to know how I go about this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Becca

Kylie.lamb 02/09/2019 at 4:43 pm

Hi I'm 16 years old and am wanting to become a support worker for children in care and was wondering how I go about this

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