Family Links the Centre for Emotional Health and the Reach Foundation came together in the recognition that, across all of our work, the position of the Home School Link Worker (an umbrella term that we will use hereafter to include other titles such as Home-School support worker, Family Support worker, Inclusion Lead, Learning Mentor, attendance officer) plays an essential role in developing and sustaining partnerships with families from within a school setting, with the children at the centre.
However, despite its importance, it is not a statutory role and there is little understanding about either the skills needed for or the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) necessary to do the job well. As other Children’s social services become increasingly stretched and under resourced, and schools feel they are rapidly becoming the ‘fourth emergency service’ (ASCL 20232 ) it seems a particularly important and timely opportunity to raise the importance and profile of this role, with the hope that it can be better understood and resourced.
We decided to do further research, to support existing Home School Links Workers, to raise awareness about how essential this work is, and to campaign for statutory resourcing. Following a series of focus groups nationally, we have produced this report of the main findings and recommendations for change (click on the image below to download a copy).
A series of follow up workshops are being run in January, March and June 2024. Further information and the link to sign up can be found in the report.
Please get in touch with education@emotionalhealth.org.uk if you would like to be involved in further work!