Leona is a centre support assistant at our family hubs. Family hubs are one-stop shops of family support and advice. Parents and carers of children aged between 0-19 (or 25 for young people with special educational needs or disabilities) can find a hub in 36 different locations across Leicestershire.
With a mix of activities and groups to attend, no day in a family hub is the same. Hear from Leona on what a day in the life of a centre support assistant is like below:
What does your job involve?
I’m usually the first person you see when you arrive. It’s my job to manage the day to day running of the hub. This could be welcoming parents/carers to their groups, offering advice to families, doing centre checks for health and safety issues, making sure spaces are ready for meetings or groups, or helping our amazing team of volunteers run their projects.
What is a typical day like for you?
I usually arrive around 8.30am and the first thing I do are the health and safety building checks. I then check my emails and the diary and prepare for any groups or room bookings we have that day. These could be stay and plays, wellbeing cafes, parent support groups or heath/midwife clinics.
I sit at the main reception desk and answer any calls. This might be families asking questions about what’s on at the hub, or they may call for general advice or signposting needs.
I really enjoy connecting with the community. I enjoy keeping the family hub tidy and creating a welcoming space and I’m responsible for keeping the information boards and displays up to date, which cover a range of topics like 1001 Days, pregnancy health, infant feeding and positive parenting tips.
I might also place an order for some new toys and crafts, so our younger visitors enjoy their time with us. But most importantly, I’m available to help our visitors, families, and staff with anything they need.
What has been a highlight in your job role?
We often have people come into the hub who are really struggling. One time, a family had no food and were calling to see if we could help. We had our Community Fridge open but would close before the parents could get to the hub. I arranged a food parcel and our volunteers put together a wonderful selection of fresh fruit, veg, bread, tinned goods, and some treats for the children. They were so grateful and cried with appreciation.
I’ve also supported a mum who was concerned about her little one’s speech. It feels good to know people leave feeling better than when they arrived.
Have you seen a difference in the community since the family hub network has expanded?
Yes. We recently had a group of teenagers pop in to see what family hubs are about and how we could support them. Our centres are for all ages, so I took them on a tour around the centre and spoke to them about what services we have available for them. It was so nice to have more interaction with this age group now that we’re a family hub.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I’m really looking forward to having the website available for families in our reception area. This will provide a quick and helpful way of giving families even more information about the ways we can offer them support.
The family hub website is available for all to access now from the comfort of their own home.