About this job

As a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner, you will work across Best Start Family Hubs as part of a multidisciplinary team providing early intervention and SEND support for children aged 0 to 5. You will help create a consistent borough-wide approach to inclusion, early identification and school readiness, improving outcomes for children with emerging or identified additional needs. You will contribute specialist knowledge in one or more areas, which may include: <ul> <li>Infant development from birth to age 2</li> <li>School readiness for children aged 2 to 5</li> <li>Health and early development</li> <li>SEND and inclusive early education</li> <li>Behaviour, co-regulation and trauma-informed practice</li> <li>Speech, language and social communication</li> </ul> Practitioners will work as a complementary, skill-balanced team, combining individual expertise with shared responsibility for inclusion, family engagement and multi-agency working. You will undertake observations, screening and early identification of children with emerging needs, including social, emotional and mental health needs and speech, language and communication needs. You will deliver targeted, time-limited interventions and model inclusive practice in Family Hubs and community settings. You will also maintain accurate records, monitor children’s progress and contribute to service evaluation and outcome reporting. Working directly with parents and carers, you will offer practical advice and strategies, help families understand child development and SEND pathways, and support access to appropriate services. You may facilitate parent engagement activities, groups and learning opportunities, and contribute to newsletters, information resources and awareness campaigns. The role includes line management and professional supervision of designated staff. You will set objectives, support performance and wellbeing, encourage professional development, and provide coaching and mentoring to Family Hub staff and partner practitioners. You will also deliver training and workshops covering early identification, SEND and inclusive practice. Partnership working is central to this role. You will collaborate with health, early years, education, voluntary and community services, contribute specialist expertise to multi-agency planning, and help develop effective referral pathways and a “no wrong door” approach for children and families.

Special requirements for this post

This post requires an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check due to the nature of the work with babies, young children and families, including children with additional needs and SEND. The postholder must: <ul> <li>Be able to travel across Barking and Dagenham to manage and deliver services, work across Best Start Family Hubs and community settings, attend meetings and deliver presentations.</li> <li>Be able to work in a primarily front-facing role, supporting children, parents, carers, practitioners and partner organisations.</li> <li>Undertake observations, screening and early identification activity involving children aged 0 to 5.</li> <li>Work sensitively with children and families who may be experiencing developmental needs, SEND, poverty, cultural barriers or social isolation.</li> <li>Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality when managing personal and sensitive information.</li> <li>Maintain accurate records and comply with GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and information-governance requirements.</li> <li>Share information appropriately and lawfully with colleagues and partner organisations.</li> <li>Fulfil safeguarding responsibilities and comply with relevant Council policies and procedures.</li> <li>Comply with the Equality Act 2010 and actively promote equality, diversity, inclusion and culturally competent practice.</li> <li>Follow health and safety legislation, governance requirements, codes of conduct and professional standards.</li> <li>Participate in relevant training and take responsibility for continuous professional development.</li> <li>Work collaboratively with health, early years, education, voluntary and community services.</li> <li>Undertake line management and professional supervision of designated staff.</li> <li>Adapt to changing service priorities and undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and nature of the role.</li> </ul>

About you

You are passionate about improving outcomes for babies and young children and ensuring that families receive timely, inclusive and coordinated support. You understand child development and have experience of working with children aged 0 to 5 who have developmental delay, additional needs or SEND. You will hold a Level 3 qualification in Early Years, Child Development, Education, SEND, Health, Social Care or a related discipline, or have equivalent relevant experience. You will understand the Early Years Foundation Stage, SEND legislation, the SEND Code of Practice and evidence-based approaches to early intervention and inclusion. You can recognise emerging developmental needs, undertake observations and screening, and provide targeted, time-limited support. You are able to adapt activities and practical strategies to meet each child’s needs while helping parents and carers understand their child’s development and navigate available services and SEND pathways. You are an effective communicator who can build positive and respectful relationships with families, colleagues and partners. You understand how poverty, cultural differences and social isolation can affect engagement with services and are committed to culturally competent practice, equitable access and removing barriers to support. You work confidently as part of a multidisciplinary team and can collaborate with health services, early years providers, schools, voluntary organisations and community partners. You can contribute specialist knowledge to multi-agency discussions while keeping children’s needs and family experiences at the centre of planning and delivery. You also have the skills to manage or supervise others. You can provide clear objectives, constructive support, professional guidance and development opportunities while promoting staff wellbeing and high-quality practice. You are comfortable delivering coaching, training, workshops and awareness sessions to practitioners and partners. You are organised, reflective and committed to continuous improvement. You can keep accurate records, monitor outcomes, interpret information and use feedback to improve services. You understand confidentiality, GDPR and appropriate information sharing, and you are confident using Microsoft Office applications. Above all, you will demonstrate the Council’s values by delivering high-quality inclusive services, inspiring learning and reflective practice, valuing the contributions of others, and engaging constructively with families, colleagues and partner organisations.

About us

Barking & Dagenham is changing. It Starts Here. Think you know Barking and Dagenham? Think again. While this small corner of east London might have a reputation for needing development, scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find active communities and a place that consistently punches above its weight. The borough is changing – and changing for the better. And It Starts Here. Yes, the borough has its challenges. But it’s on the cusp of something exciting. With one of the youngest populations in the country, ambitions are high and rightly so. 98% of our schools are rated Good or Outstanding and every year more of our talented teenagers get into Russell Group Universities and hotly sought after apprenticeship schemes. We have award winning parks, centuries old manor houses full of relics and artifacts you can go and see, and the ruins of one of Anglo-Saxon England's most powerful and wealthiest religious sites. We’re even bringing beavers and white storks to the borough to help rewild the local landscape and boost biodiversity. Over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to improve how we deliver services and support our community. From tackling inequality to making sure our services are the best they can be, we’re focused on what matters most to local people.  We’re creating the conditions for people to thrive - so everyone can enjoy a good quality of life, feel proud to call this place home, and be part of something bigger.   #ItStartsHere - with our streets, our schools, our neighbourhoods. And with your application to join our determined team who are passionate about doing what’s best for the future of Barking and Dagenham.  As an Investors in People Gold Award employer, we’re serious about supporting our staff. From flexible working, professional training and career development to wellbeing initiatives, we want our people to feel valued and supported in everything they do.

Additional Information

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any adjustments or support at any stage, please contact the Hiring Manager to discuss your needs.

Available documents

JDPS Best Start Inclusion Practitioner.docx