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We are looking for a Dad Matters (Family Support) Co-ordinator
- Job Title: Dad Matters Co-ordinator
- Employer: Home-Start Wakefield & District
- Reports to: HSWD Operations Manager
- Hours of work: 37 hours per week
- Contract: to 30 September 2027 (further continuation subject to funding)
- Base: Homestart Wakefield WF1 4RW , with regular travel across district
Purpose of the Job
The Dad Matters coordinators deliver a range of universal and targeted interventions aimed at male parents in the First 1001 Days. They support dads and other male carers with attachment and bonding, mental health and access to service. They also work with professionals and perinatal services to ensure dads and male carers are engaged, supported and heard within clinical pathways.
The post holder will:
- Build on the Home-Start foundation of peer support by engaging and supporting dads in one to one and group situations.
- Ensure that parent – infant relationships are a thread through every relationship and conversation with dads.
- Raise awareness of the risks of poor mental health for fathers and their families during the perinatal period
- Raise awareness of the impact on fathers of caring for a partner affected by perinatal mental health issues
- Develop the Dad Matters volunteer role across Wakefield
- Develop close links with other health and voluntary agencies in Wakefield
- Facilitate regular consultation with fathers through outreach and focus groups
Main Responsibilities
Support to Dads
The post holder will provide individual and group support to dads during the perinatal period. This will involve the following:
- Meeting dads at ante-natal clinics
- Facilitating or co-facilitating ante-natal Dad Chats in person and online
- Supporting the developments of support offered to dads with children on NICU and those with partners in receipt of care from Perinatal Mental Health teams, Adult Mental Health, IAPT and Parent Infant Mental Health teams
- Signposting and supporting access to other services as appropriate
- Undertake designated responsibilities to safeguard and promote children’s welfare
- Ensure equality of opportunity, fairness and diversity in all aspects of work
- Facilitate regular focus groups with fathers in order to ensure that all resources are targeted appropriately
Promotion & Awareness Raising:
- Maintain up-to-date information for dads and make this available through the Dad Matters website and a range of social media
- Engage dads through social media, self-referral and email.
- Ensure the integrity of the Dad Matters Brand when engaging dads and professionals.
Recruiting & Managing Volunteers – this will involve:
- Promoting, developing and delivering volunteer recruitment campaigns
- Recruiting, selecting and preparing suitable volunteers
- Arranging and co-ordinating volunteer activity in person and online
- Providing support and supervision for volunteers engaged in working with dad
- To provide further training for Home-Start Dad Matters volunteers as appropriate
Monitoring & Evaluation:
- Support the evaluation of the impact of Dad Matters
- Ensure accurate and relevant record keeping and data collection
Working in Partnership
- Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with key health partners, including those from Parent Infant Mental Health teams, Midwifery, IAPT, Perinatal Teams, Adult Mental Health, Health Visiting and other VCSE groups
- Networking appropriately within the community
- Delivering/co-delivering training to multi-agency colleagues as appropriate
Supporting the work of Home-Start
- To contribute to the effective day to day operation of Home-Start in accordance with the Home-Start Memorandum & Articles of Association, Home-Start, Standards & Methods of Practice, Home-Start Agreement and Quality Assurance Standards.
- Undertaking work as delegated by the leadership team to support the strategic management, development and future funding of Home-Start.
- Supporting the implementation and review of Home-Start policies and procedures.
- Complying with Home-Start’s administration, monitoring and financial systems.
- Promoting the work of Home-Start and of this project as required
- Contributing to and supporting the development of the Home-Start network locally, regionally and nationally.
The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties that fall within the nature of the role and responsibilities of the post as detailed above.
This job description is current as at May 2026.
Person Specification – Dad Matters Co-ordinator
This form also indicates how the different requirements may be assessed during the selection process:  A = Application Form, I = Interview, E = Exercise
| Person Specification – Dad Matters Co-ordinator | |||
| ESSENTIAL | Method of Assessment | ||
|   | A | I | E |
| Education and qualifications |   |   |   |
| Relevant standard of education  | x |   |   |
| Employment History |   |   |   |
| Relevant previous or current employment, experience or voluntary work | x |  |   |
| Support to Dads                             |   |   |   |
| Understanding of the needs of families with young children/infants           | x | x |   |
| Knowledge of the impact that poor mental health can have for dads during the perinatal period | x | x | x |
| Knowledge of early attachment and of the impact of parental mental health issues on the parent’s relationship with their baby | x | x | x |
| Experience of the barriers and challenges faced by men when they become parents        | x |  |   |
| Understanding of safeguarding issues | x | x | x |
| Knowledge of current legislation and policies relating to children and families | x | x |   |
| Ability to facilitate groups  | x | x |  |
| Ability to engage with and consult fathers from a range of backgrounds  | x |  x |  x |
| Ability to use social media effectively and responsibly | x | x |  |
| Ability to develop supportive relationships with dads |  | x |  |
| Recruiting & Managing Volunteers                        |   |   |   |
| Knowledge and experience of recruiting and supervising volunteers | x |  |   |
| Ability to deliver volunteer training | x | x | x |
| Working in partnership and in the wider context |   |   |   |
| Knowledge of the roles of agencies providing services for children and families | x | x |   |
| Project promotion skills   |  | x | x |
| Training and presentation skills  |  | x | x |
| Supporting the work of Home-Start        |   |   |   |
| Ability to prioritise and undertake planning | x | x |   |
| Ability to process and collate information               | x | x |  |
| Experience of using outcomes measures for evaluating and monitoring | x | x |  |
| Ability to prepare reports and statistical information | x | x |  |
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| Self management/personal attributes                       |   |   |   |
| Ability to thrive in a changing work environment | x | x | x |
| Experience of building supportive relationships           |   | x | x |
| A positive and creative approach to tackling tasks |   | x | x |
| Knowledge of and commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice | x | x |   |
| Understanding of the need for professional confidentiality           | x | x |   |
| Good written and verbal communication skills                 | x | x |   |
| Skills in managing barriers that fathers may have to engagement  | x | x | x |
| Ability to work as part of a team                             | x | x |   |
| Special requirements                           |   |   |   |
| Able to work flexibly, some evening or week-end work and occasional residential training | x  | x |   |
| Willingness to access training opportunities  |   | x |   |
| Ability to use audio-visual aids, computers and filming equipment |  | x |  |
| Car driver     | x |   |   |
| Eligibility to work in the UK       | x |   |   |
|   |   |   |   |
| DESIRABLE |   |   |   |
| Experience of a child on NICU | x |  |  |
| Relevant professional training, for example, Health Visitor, Teacher, Social worker, Child carer | x |  |   |
| Teaching or training qualification or experience or working towards | x |  |  |
| Experience of work in the voluntary sector or as a volunteer | x | x |   |
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