Description
This is an exciting opportunity to join Hillingdon's Family Hubs and Children's Centres at a time of continued investment in our Best Start in Life programme.
We are looking for a skilled and enthusiastic Best Start Inclusion Practitioner to help shape and deliver high-quality support for children aged 0-5 with additional needs and disabilities and their families.
Working within a Family Hub and local community settings, you will provide specialist advice, targeted interventions and coordinated support that helps children achieve their full potential.
You Will
- Provide specialist advice, support and interventions to families of children with SEND to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities.
- Support families to understand their child's needs and navigate education, health and care systems.
- Promote inclusive access to Family Hub services, ensuring children with additional needs can participate in universal provision.
- Deliver targeted interventions and support packages for children with emerging or identified SEND.
- Lead on early identification of developmental needs through screening, observation and partnership working.
- Promote and help embed the graduated approach (Assess-Plan-Do-Review) within early years and Family Hub delivery.
- Work closely with Health Visiting (0–19), midwifery, early years settings and schools to coordinate care and support pathways.
- Facilitate smooth transitions into early years and primary education, particularly for children with SEND.
- Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings and provide consultancy and “expert at hand” advice to practitioners.
- Provide specialist guidance and informal support to Family Hub staff and early years practitioners on SEND inclusion.
- Contribute to workforce development through coaching, modelling best practice and delivering training.
- Maintain accurate family case records and ensure compliance with statutory guidance and local procedures.
- Monitor outcomes for children and families, identify gaps in provision and contribute to service improvement.
- Support the embedding of SEND inclusion within universal and targeted services and promote integrated pathways across Family Hubs, Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and child health services.
- Strengthen parent/carer confidence and resilience through co-production and person-centred approaches.
About You
- Experience of working with children and families, particularly within early years, SEND or family support.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of SEND inclusion and early identification.
- The ability to provide specialist advice and support to families and professionals.
- Experience of partnership working across early years, health, education and wider services.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to work collaboratively with families and professionals using co-production and person-centred approaches.
- The ability to identify gaps in provision, monitor outcomes and contribute to service improvement.
- A commitment to safeguarding, equality, inclusion and improving outcomes for children and families.
Benefits
- Flexible Working Hours
- 36 Hour Week
- Generous Holiday Entitlement
- Hillingdon Sports & Leisure
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes
- Cycle to Work
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Perkbox Benefits
- Mental Health Support and Counselling Services
- Travel Support
- Trade Union Membership