South Gloucestershire Council
Inclusion Practitioner - Best Start Team
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How You'll Make a Difference
The Early Years team is responsible for delivering the council's statutory duties relating to education, including ensuring a sufficient supply of high-quality early years places. The team forms part of the Education, Learning and Skills Division within the Department for People.
As a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner, you will provide flexible, responsive and hands-on support to children aged 0-5 and their families across Family Hubs, community settings and family homes. You will play a key role in ensuring that children receive high-quality, inclusive early support, with a particular focus on reaching families who may experience barriers to accessing services.
What You Will Be Doing
- Engage with families, early years providers, health professionals and community partners to identify and respond to needs at the earliest opportunity.
- Promote positive outcomes for children and help ensure every child has the best possible start in life.
- Support and empower families to access the services they need, particularly where complex needs are identified.
- Provide guidance and signposting to colleagues, professionals and partner agencies to ensure children and families receive timely and effective support.
- Use evidence-based screening and observation tools to identify children who may require additional support.
- Work closely with health and education partners to recognise and respond to emerging needs, helping to address barriers to learning and development at the earliest stage.
- Provide practical advice, coaching and modelling of inclusive practice within Family Hubs, community settings and family homes.
- Connect families with trusted voluntary, community and faith sector organisations, peer support networks and local services that can further enhance outcomes for children and their families.
- Help improve opportunities and support for vulnerable children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and their families through the delivery of targeted interventions, group activities and programmes.
- Maintain accurate records and produce high-quality reports and documentation, ensuring all statutory and organisational requirements are met and deadlines are consistently achieved.
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What We Need From You
- Hold a Level 3 qualification in early years, education, health, SEND or a related discipline.
- Have a minimum of two years' post-qualification experience of working with young children with SEND, together with experience of supporting parents and carers through advice, coaching, signposting and the delivery of training and information sessions.
- Have a sound understanding of SEND processes and systems, child development from birth to five years, family support pathways and the principles of delivering high-quality, inclusive early years provision.
- Have strong interpersonal and communication skills, enabling you to develop effective relationships and work collaboratively with children, families, colleagues and partner agencies.
- Be confident in engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and adapting your approach to meet individual needs.
- Have strong analytical and organisational skills, with the ability to undertake research, evaluate information and present findings clearly and concisely through accurate reports and documentation.
- Have good IT and presentation skills, with the ability to design and deliver training, group sessions and briefings to a range of audiences.
What You Need To Know
- An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement of employment.
- Travel throughout the authority and surrounding area is required; a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or an alternative means of travel is necessary.
- Business insurance will need to be added to your insurance policy.
- You will be based at our offices in Badminton Road, Yate and at one of our Best Start Family Hubs located in Patchway, Staple Hill or Yate.
- We have three full-time, permanent positions to fill.
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Interviews will be held on 14th and 15th September 2026.
How a Career At South Gloucestershire Council Is Different
- Generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support, and access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
- We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
- We offer genuine flexibility to help achieve work/life balance.
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of. We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life. We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.
We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.
We’re making a difference, be part of it!
To view the full job description, please click this link: Best Start Inclusion Practitioner - Job Description
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