Family Link short break service

The Family Link project aims to provide high quality care and support to disabled children/young people in the family home. A support worker will visit the family on a regular basis, which allows the usual care provider some time off.

The service works with a wide range of disabilities including mental health, learning disabilities, on going medical conditions, physical conditions, autistic spectrum disorders and sensory impairments.

Become a Family Link carer

The service is always on the look out for carers to carry out this invaluable service. Carers come from different backgrounds. However they all have one thing in common – they care about the child/young person and want to provide high quality caring support.

We need carers for all groups, but there is a particular need for carers to support people with complex health needs and carers who can support teenagers.

Those interested in becoming a support worker will need to be assessed. The process usually takes around two to three hours and takes place over two separate meetings. During these meetings you will be asked numerous questions about your life experiences and professional skills that you could bring to the role.

You will be invited to attend a Family Link panel which is made up of people who have experience in this field. They will read the assessment report and decide whether to approve you as a Family Link carer, and what ages and the type of disabilities you can work with. The decision will also be sent to you in writing.

Once you are an approved support worker, we won’t let you cope on your own. We will support you with regular visits and training, and the child / young person’s social worker will visit regularly too. We run courses on a wide range of subjects and you will also have the opportunity to meet up with other carers.

You will be employed as a casual worker and will be earning a competitive salary, the details of which will be discussed during the assessment process.

How to contact us

If you would like to find out more about the scheme, you can speak to the Family Link social worker between 9am - 5pm

Children With Disabilities Integrated Services

Tower Hamlets Town Hall
160 Whitechapel Road
London
E1 1BJ

Tel: 020 7364 2724