Luton Borough Council
Childcare Provision Officer
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Childcare Provision Officer
Childcare Provision Officer
Job Details
Salary: Not specified Hours Per Week: Not specified Contract Type: Fixed Term until March 2027 Location: Luton (travel across sites as needed)
About The Role
The Childcare Provision Officer plays a key role in developing, leading, and managing the local delivery of school-age childcare across the borough. This role oversees the implementation of national programmes, including:
- Wraparound Childcare
- Breakfast Clubs
- Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
Working collaboratively with:
- Schools
- Private, Voluntary, and Independent (PVI) providers
- Childminders
The postholder will:
- Increase availability, accessibility, and quality of childcare provision.
- Gather intelligence on childcare needs, preferences, and barriers to access.
The role involves:
- Maintaining robust supply and demand data
- Undertaking gap analyses
- Contributing to the production of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA)
- Identifying clear actions to address areas of need
Key Responsibilities
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Provide practical advice and support to new and existing childcare providers on sustainability, including:
- Occupancy levels
- Staffing ratios
- Financial planning
- Cost management
- Service development
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Support the administration of strategic childcare partnerships and boards
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Prepare reports and performance information
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Ensure accurate Department for Education returns
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Maintain evidence and records
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Champion inclusive childcare provision, particularly for children with:
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- Work with providers to:
- Identify and overcome barriers to participation
- Promote reasonable adjustments
- Support development of financially sustainable and accessible childcare places for diverse families
Note: This role does not attract sponsorship.
About You
- Experience: Leading or contributing to market analysis and sufficiency planning in public sector, education, childcare, or commissioning environments. Skills should include:
- Mapping supply and demand
- Forecasting and reporting activity
- Translating insights into actions to improve service outcomes
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Supporting Business Sustainability:
- Understanding financial modelling, development planning
- Grant compliance and assurance processes
- Strengthening financial viability of providers
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Collaboration: Experience of collaborating with:
- Schools
- Private, Voluntary, and Independent (PVI) providers
- Childminders
- Partner agencies
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Project Management:
- Planning, risk and issue management
- Milestone tracking
- Delivery against defined outcomes
Core Skills and Qualifications
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Excellent organisational, planning, and coordination skills
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Strong communication skills, written and verbal, with the ability to adapt messaging for different audiences
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Proficient in data, with advanced Excel or business intelligence skills to:
- Clean, analyze, and visualize sufficiency and performance data
- Produce clear, actionable recommendations
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Financial literacy, including:
- Pricing models
- Break-even analysis
- Scenario planning
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Influencing skills:
- Work effectively with:
- Schools
- PVIs
- Childminders
- Internal teams
- Elected members
- Work effectively with:
Critical Compliance and Training
- Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns
- Identify and address discrimination in service delivery or the workplace
- Sound understanding of:
- Current childcare policy and legislation
- Statutory requirements
- Schools and early years provider structures, systems, and operating contexts
Educational Requirements:
-
Level 4 qualification or higher in:
- Education
- Early years
- Business
- Economics
- Commissioning
- A related field
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(Or equivalent substantial professional experience)
-
GCSEs in:
- English and Maths, Grade A-C (or equivalent)*
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Evidence of ongoing continuous professional development
Operating Parameters
- Must be able to:
- Travel across Luton as needed
- occasionally adjust working hours to meet service requirements
- communicate effectively with the public in fluent spoken English
- attend occasional evening meetings (e.g., provider forums and governance sessions)
About Us
Luton Council is committed to its Luton 2040 Vision, where no-one will have to live in poverty. We recognise the value of our remarkable, talented, and passionate workforce dedicated to serving our residents.
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We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that better represents our community. Join us to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision!
Application Process
Note: Appropriate criminal record disclosure is mandatory for this role.
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This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
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Applicants are required to disclose all:
- Unspent cautions and convictions
- Adult cautions (simple or conditional)
- Spent convictions that are not protected
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A criminal record will not in itself prevent eligibility, but non-disclosure will result in immediate dismissal or disciplinary action if employment proceeds.
Occasionally, we may close a vacancy early due to a high volume of applicants.
Benefits
We offer a range of excellent benefits while working with us:
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Annual Leave:
- 25 to 32 days (linked to length of service and grade level)
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Buying Annual Leave Scheme: Opportunity to buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
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Career Pathway Opportunities: Step up in your career or move into a specialist field
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Pension Scheme:
- Generous employer contributions of up to 19.2% (effective April 2026)
- 3x salary death in service grant
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Relocation Package: Up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
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Employee Assistance Programme: Free, 24/7 confidential support for:
- Counselling
- Wellbeing support for employees, their partners, and dependent children over 16
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Flexible Working Options:
- Best effort for hybrid working arrangements
- Optional part-time hours or alternative working patterns available
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Training and Development:
- Unlimited access to courses
- Mentoring and support
- Clear career pathways
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Staff Offers:
- Discounts on MOTs, gym memberships, restaurants, and salons
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Arriva Travel Club: Significant savings on local bus travel
How To Apply
olate’s application page has guidelines and tips to help you prepare a leading application: How to Apply: [Insert Link to Council’s Application Page]
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