Family guidance

A recruitment day is being held at the Healthier Thornhill Centre, Hinkler Road, on Friday.

Part-time workers are needed to help parents with youngsters up to 17 years and to support them through day-to-day challenges.

"We want them to help families before they really start to struggle and a crisis develops," said family support programme leader Pat Hawkins. "We will be offering practical outreach in people's homes."

Research conducted in the early stages of the New Deal for Communities programme highlighted that approximately 25 per cent of Thornhill's population is under 17.

This creates a much larger caring responsibility compared to the city average of 19.9 per cent.

Parents also tend to be significantly more youthful. This in turn raises the number of vulnerable families who need guidance and support in accessing health, childcare, pre-school education and youth facilities.

Eight part-time locality family workers are to be recruited. They will be part of a team providing support to parents, as well as providing information and assisting parents and carers to make use of local health and social facilities

Their role will be varied and could well include:

Accompanying a young mother to a local group

Supporting a mother to cope with a new baby

Helping parents develop skills to play with their child

They will work closely with health visitors, midwives and other family workers.

"The aim is not necessarily to employ eight workers who have plenty of qualifications and professional experience," said Pat.

"We are looking for people with a knowledge of Thornhill and who know what is important to the families who live here.

"Rather than academic qualifications, we are looking for people with practical life skills who want to share their knowledge.

"It might suit somebody wanting to work after their children have gone to school or someone looking to get on the employment ladder."

Training will be given and there will be an opportunity for the workers to study for NVQ qualifications.