Inclusion Practitioner

Job Introduction

We're recruiting a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner to join our Best Start Family Hubs team. Our Best Start Family Hubs support children and families to access the right help at the right time, helping children achieve the best possible start in life. This rewarding role will play a key part in identifying emerging special educational needs and disabilities and ensuring families receive timely advice, guidance and practical support.

The Best Start Inclusion Practitioner (BSIP) role is a mandated requirement of the Department for Education's Best Start Family Hub and Healthy Babies reforms and is directly linked to Milton Keynes City Council's grant funding conditions. As a funded delivery requirement, the Department for Education expects local authorities to have BSIPs in post, or active recruitment underway, by October 2026, with progress monitored through regular monthly assurance meetings.

To support implementation of the new Children's Social Care quadrant model and ensure compliance with grant obligations, Milton Keynes will initially establish four BSIP posts, representing a critical investment in both service transformation and ongoing funding assurance. BSIPs will provide direct support to families where emerging special educational needs and disabilities are identified. Working across family hubs, community settings and family homes, you'll help children and families access inclusive support while strengthening early developmental outcomes.

You'll join a council that is dedicated, respectful and collaborative, where we work together to make our city a better place to live and where every day matters.

This is a Site-Based role, and you'll be expected to work from the designated workplace.

At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day. We're dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive. Find out more about working with us here:

• Deliver high-quality support to children and families by identifying emerging additional needs and providing practical early intervention.
• Support the development of inclusive approaches through activities, guidance and tailored support that improve outcomes for children.
• Lead on a caseload of families with emerging special educational needs and disabilities, coordinating plans and acting as Lead Practitioner where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively to connect families with health services, education providers, community organisations and other local support.
• Ensure effective assessments are completed using observations, professional input and recognised tools to identify needs and inform support plans.
• Contribute to the promotion of inclusive practice across Best Start Family Hubs and partner services throughout Milton Keynes.

• A Level 3 qualification, or equivalent experience, in early years, education, health, child development, special educational needs and disabilities, or a related field.
• You bring experience of supporting children and families and working with a range of professionals to achieve positive outcomes.
• Your ability to build trusting relationships helps families feel supported, informed and included.
• Experience in assessing needs, developing support plans and monitoring progress enables you to provide effective interventions.
• A strong understanding of inclusive practice and local special educational needs and disabilities services will help you make a real difference.
• Confidence when communicating, recording information and managing your own workload allows you to work effectively in a busy community-based role.

To be successful in this role, you'll need a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle. If we offer you the role, we'll ask you to provide evidence of your driving licence and vehicle insurance, including cover for business use. We're unable to confirm an appointment until these documents are…