Inclusion Practitioner

Best Start Inclusion Practitioner  Contract Type:
Fixed Term – 28 Months Salary: £42,492 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:

• Infant development from birth to age 2
• School readiness for children aged 2 to 5
• Health and early development
• SEND and inclusive early education
• Behaviour, co-regulation and trauma-informed practice
• Speech, language and social communication

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.

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.

• 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.
• Be able to work in a primarily front-facing role, supporting children, parents, carers, practitioners and partner organisations.
• Undertake observations, screening and early identification activity involving children aged 0 to 5.
• Work sensitively with children and families who may be experiencing developmental needs, SEND, poverty, cultural barriers or social isolation.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality when managing personal and sensitive information.
• Maintain accurate records and comply with GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and information-governance requirements.
• Share information appropriately and lawfully with colleagues and partner organisations.
• Fulfil safeguarding responsibilities and comply with relevant Council policies and procedures.
• Comply with the Equality Act 2010 and actively promote equality, diversity, inclusion and…