Staff stories

What does a day in your role look like?

Each day is different. It can include:

• Home visits to referred families for initial assessment
• Meeting extended family members
• Completing final reviews and saying goodbye to families as support ends
• Visiting volunteers to provide supervision (6 weekly)
• Training or meeting volunteers at families' homes to match them with referred families
• Delivering coffee mornings

Within my day there will be admin processes to follow to keep all records up to date recording contacts. I also meet and communicate with other professionals either in person or via zoom for babies' early help assessment plans (EHAPs) and family hub meetings.

I also run infant massage groups. I meet new parents and their babies, helping them to build their confidence and secure attachments to their babies. My role involves a lot of travelling and some weekend work.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I enjoy meeting new families. They are sometimes at their lowest and most vulnerable. To allow us into their homes to offer support is a real privilege. To support a volunteer and see a family grow in confidence and into a better place (not always) is very satisfying. Meeting new families with their babies for infant massage and seeing the babies and parents grow in confidence each week is beautiful. For example, witnessing a baby's responses develop over time and supporting attachment with their caregiver.

I love working alongside the volunteers who all have amazing life experiences and skills to share with the families they support. I feel part of a wider team who all support each other.

What has your experience of career progression in early years been and what support did you receive? 

I started at Home-Start Norfolk as a volunteer. I then progressed to running groups. A year later I had the opportunity to become a family service coordinator in the Breckland and South Norfolk area. I had the opportunity to become a baby massage instructor and have trained in parent-child play and learning sessions. I have supported my manager with coordination of county wide groups and delivery on a commissioned project to support Ukrainian families across Norfolk.

What would you say to someone looking to join the service? 

If you enjoy working with people, look forward to new challenges working for an amazing team of staff and volunteers - I would highly recommend Home-Start Norfolk. You will always feel well supported, offered chances for new training opportunities and to be part of a team. Even when lone working, you are never alone.