Family Links is a pioneering service led by a partnership of third sector organisations – the Care and Learning Alliance, Homestart East Highland and Thriving Families – and supported by the Highland Whole Family Wellbeing Programme. Working alongside schools and other statutory and third sector providers, the Family Links team delivers holistic support to families in targeted communities across Highland. The current role is in the Inverness High School Associated Schools Group area and the worker will be employed by Thriving Families.
Family Links workers are a bridge between home, school and community, supporting families to overcome challenges to wellbeing and enabling children and young people to flourish in school and beyond. It is recognised that there is a range of potentially beneficial outcomes for children and young people from building closer partnerships between schools, communities and families and supporting all family members to address both practical and emotional issues.
Family Links Workers work alongside families in the Inverness High School catchment area which have been identified by the schools (both primary and secondary) as being most in need. Priority families identified for Family Links are those experiencing school attendance and engagement issues. Families experiencing school attendance and engagement issues can also self‑refer to Family Links.
Support provided to families is agreed alongside families, is delivered flexibly and is responsive to the needs of families and individual family members. It will be available to families for as long as they need it. Early / preventative support in the form of peer support groups (facilitated by the Family Links team) is also available for families with children or young people with identified neurodevelopmental needs and kinship families in the area.