To apply, please visit the Parents 1st UK website (www.parents1st.org.uk) and complete the application form along with a covering letter telling us why you're interested and what you could bring to this role.
Please send your completed application to recruitment@parents1st.org.uk
Location: Home based with occasional travel (must be based in Essex)
We are looking for a Father and Partner Wellbeing Coordinator to join Parents 1st UK.
As experts in perinatal peer support, we believe that every parent deserves support, and every baby deserves the best possible start in life.
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If you have lived experience of parenting, an interest in good mental health and emotional wellbeing and understand the challenges experienced by dads/partners during the transition to parenthood, then we'd love to hear from you!
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Our background:
Parents 1st is dedicated to enabling quality peer support to flourish during pregnancy, birth and beyond. The evidence is clear - effective and sustainable peer support nurtures the emotional wellbeing of mothers, fathers, partners, and babies, and builds strengths in communities. We work both locally and nationally to achieve this aim.
Our national work:
Parents 1st UK, an 'open source' online community platform, is dedicated to sharing all the resources necessary to set up a perinatal peer support initiative. It freely shares all the tools that our flagship programme uses in daily practice, from budget setting to impact tracking. Working with commissioners and providers, Parents 1st UK also provides consultancy and workshops to help build new perinatal peer support initiatives in local communities.
Our local work in Essex:
Our award-winning flagship peer support programme currently operates in South and North Essex, directly delivering perinatal peer support to parents, through 1-1 or group support. Peer supporters engage and develop trusting relationships with parents during pregnancy, continue support through birth and the first few months afterwards.
Alongside this, Parents 1st UK also leads the Essex Peer to Parent Network. Working in partnership with EPUT (Essex University NHS Trust) across the whole of Essex, this service helps parents to access peer support during pregnancy or anytime during the first year after birth. This service is referral by EPUT PNMHS team only.
All staff and volunteers are truly committed to our cause and are passionate about helping parents.
Summary of Purpose
The role:
You will be responsible for coordinating an Essex-wide wellbeing service that assists pre and post birth fathers and partners referred by specialist perinatal mental health teams within EPUT to self-assess their own wellbeing and access appropriate support.
The overall aim of this service for fathers and partners is to:
Reduce their anxiety during the perinatal period (i.e., the period from pregnancy to 1-year post birth) and to help them to find ways to navigate the challenges of parenthood and maintain their emotional wellbeing.
Have easier access to support and information designed specifically for their needs.
Feel less isolated by having easier access to networks for self-support.
Gain knowledge about maternal mental health to enable confident support for mothers and birthing people.
(This is not a clinical post)
Please download a copy of the full job description from our website.
Key Accountabilities
1. Facilitate opportunities for fathers and partners to reflect on their wellbeing by:
Responding to requests from fathers and partners adhering to the agreed processes with the EPUT Specialist Perinatal Mental Health service.
Enabling them to articulate their needs using an agreed self-assessment tool to assist reflection on their wellbeing and their chosen next steps.
2. Share resources and provide supported signposting into local and national perinatal support services for father and partners.
Work with Parents 1st UK website staff to maintain and update a dedicated resource library specifically for fathers and partners.
Research and build relationships with organisations across Essex and nationally that offer support to fathers and partners during the perinatal period.
Work in close partnership with EPUT SPMHS, and the By Your Side Service (where support for trauma and loss may be needed).
Make referrals to the EPUT Carer's Assessment Team where appropriate.
Identify needs and gaps in support available to fathers and partners during the perinatal period.
3. Promote opportunities for fathers and partners to develop supportive peer support relationships.
Co-produce and oversee dedicated online group spaces with deliberate scoping to address diversity and inclusion e.g., teenage fathers, LGBTQ+ partners.
Facilitate an online group in response to needs identified, inviting speakers as appropriate.
4. Raise awareness of common challenges during the transition to parenthood, coping mechanisms and supporting maternal wellbeing. Research quality, evidence-based resources that:
Normalise common challenges experienced by fathers and partners / offer positive coping strategies.
Raise awareness of common maternal mental health issues, services available and positive ways to support mothers' emotional wellbeing.
5. Ensure safeguarding and risk management.
Manage risk assessment processes, taking responsibility for actions needed.
Respond to any immediate risks by escalating to crisis services as necessary.
Ensure compliance with Parents 1st data protection and safeguarding policies and procedures.
Ensure efficient and appropriate information sharing with other agencies.
Attend regular reflective supervision and partnership meetings.
6. Ensure robust record keeping and project monitoring.
Keep accurate, up to date records of fathers and partners accessing the service, support offered, and any actions taken, in accordance with Parents 1st UK record keeping policies and procedures.
Collect data to monitor outputs, key performance indicators and outcomes.
Produce reports about the service for stakeholders, reviewing progress, the quality of support offered, and setting targets.
NB This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. When shortlisting we are looking to interview people who show on their application from that they meet the criteria and competencies listed below. Priority is given to the essential criteria. We will use the interview and assessment process to explore this further and to cover those areas that cannot be shown on a written application.
The Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and other legislation places responsibilities for Health & Safety on all employees. Therefore, it is the post holder's responsibility to take reasonable care for the Health and Welfare of him/herself and other employees in accordance with legislation, policy and Programme. Where the post holder is disabled every effort will be made to supply all the necessary employment aids, equipment or adaptations to enable him/her to perform the full duties of the job. If however, a certain task proves to be non-achievable then job redesign will be given full consideration.
It is the responsibility of the individual to inform Parents 1st UK (in strictest confidence) of their medical history and any changes, which could affect their work duties.
Person Specification
Essential
Knowledge and understanding of the challenges experienced by fathers and partners during the transition to parenthood. Knowledge and understanding of the potential support needs of fathers and partners of women experiencing mental health issues. Experience of project development, coordination, monitoring, and reporting. Experienced and competent at dealing with complex situations involving children and adults at risk. Awareness of cultural diversity, social exclusion, and proactive strategies for addressing inequalities, including recent legislation and research. Confident and competent to communicate with and build relationships with practitioners and services across partner agencies. Commitment to the Parents 1st UK strengths-based model of peer support. Ability to work during weekends and evenings, if required and agreed in advance. Excellent IT skills including use of remote technology. Excellent record keeping skills. Holds a full driving licence and have access to a motor vehicle. Ability to deliver within agreed timescales and work under pressure. High quality written and verbal communication skills. Excellent networking and organisational skills.
Personal qualities
High commitment to empower people to make choices and decisions that enhance the health and wellbeing of their family unit. Approachable and confident to confront discrimination and inequality. Relational skills e.g., empathy and active listening skills. Excellent networking skills with the ability and confidence to communicate at all levels. Meticulous, organized and disciplined. A confident and enthusiastic personality with a flexible "can do" approach. Willingness to undertake further training. A sense of humour, drive, and ambition.
Desirable:
Knowledge of national and local support services specifically designed for fathers and partners during the perinatal period. Experience of successful delivery of a community project. Experience of facilitating online groups. Presentation skills.
TO APPLY
Visit www.parents1st.org.uk to download the and application form.
Please send your completed application to recruitment@parents1st.org.uk
Closing date:
Thursday 31st July 2025
Interviews:
Week beginning 11th August 2025 (Exact date tbc)
Parents 1st UK embraces diversity and welcomes applications from
all backgrounds and all parts of the community.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: 21,034.00 per year
Expected hours: 25 per week
Benefits:
Company pension Work from home
Schedule:
Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 31/07/2025
Reference ID: P1st_FPC #J-18808-Ljbffr