City of York Council
Best Start Inclusion Practitioner
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Best Start Inclusion Practitioner
We are excited to be recruiting four Best Start Inclusion Practitioners to form a new and dynamic team that will play a key role in ensuring strong and consistent early identification of developmental needs and high-quality SEND support across locality-based neighbourhoods in York.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a neighbourhood-based service supporting families with children aged 0–5 who have emerging additional needs. As a newly established role, Best Start Inclusion Practitioners will provide direct, flexible support to children and their families, helping to identify and respond to emerging needs at the earliest opportunity and strengthen developmental outcomes. The role will work closely with the wider early years workforce to promote inclusion, build confidence, and ensure timely access to appropriate support.
Practitioners will develop trusted relationships with families, providing practical, evidence-informed support that strengthens early assessment, promotes child-centred planning, and enables timely intervention. They will also provide specialist advice and guidance, model effective inclusive practice, and foster strong multi-agency partnerships across health, education, social care and community services.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
A key aspect of the role will be supporting practitioners and settings to build their confidence and capability in meeting the needs of children with emerging SEND, while strengthening the local SEND offer and ensuring families receive coordinated support from the earliest presentation of need.
You will also contribute to the delivery of parenting programmes, community engagement activities, and locality-based networks of support, helping to create inclusive communities where children and families can thrive. Through promoting a collaborative, multi-agency approach, you will help ensure children receive seamless, joined-up support during their crucial early years.
Benefits
The Council is committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.
This post is suitable as a job sharing position.
Hybrid working arrangements are available for this role. Each role at CYC is different and your working arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of the role and in collaboration with you and your needs as part of the recruitment process. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Requirements
City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.
Application
For further information or an informal discussion please contact Claire Kenny (SEND Hub and Integration Manager) at claire.kenny@york.gov.uk
Closing date: Sunday 4 October 2026 at 12 midnight
Interview date: Week commencing 12 October 2026
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location