Senior Early Years Targeted Support Worker

Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance

Salary:
Grade 6, £24,700 - £27,256 per annum.

37 hours per week, term time working 38 weeks per year

We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.

We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!

The Early Years Senior Targeted Support Worker (Portage Focus) supports children with SEND from birth to Reception by working with families, early years providers and multi‑agency professionals. The role supports the delivery and development of the Portage Service across Family Hubs, including assessments, group sessions and home visits. It promotes early identification, inclusive practice and improved outcomes through a strengths‑based, small‑steps approach.

Responsibilities include coordinating support, advising practitioners, enabling effective transitions, maintaining records and collaborating across services to ensure a joined‑up, family‑centred approach that gives children the best start in life.

You will have strong knowledge of SEND, early years development and the SEND Code of Practice, alongside experience delivering Portage. You will have excellent communication and relationship‑building skills to work with families, practitioners and multi‑agency teams. The role requires organisation, independence and the ability to plan, deliver and evaluate targeted interventions. Flexibility is essential, including working across Family Hubs, early years settings and in family homes.

A proactive, supportive and inclusive approach is key, with commitment to improving outcomes and continuous professional development.

Wigan Council has been voted ‘Overall Council of the Year’ at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards. We are signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment ensuring that your service will be continuous or ‘unbroken’ between the supporting organisations.

The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our two place missions: create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them.

This role offers the opportunity to be part of a supportive Early Years Inclusion Team, making a meaningful impact on outcomes for children with SEND and contributing to the Best Start in Life agenda. You’ll work collaboratively across settings, Family Hubs and services, shaping inclusive practice and driving early intervention. The role provides variety through training, project work and leadership responsibilities, including developing others, while promoting early identification and improving children’s developmental outcomes through joined up, family‑centred support.

Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits for more information about working for Team Wigan.

To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK, and you must maintain a valid (active) right to work. Please note, at present we are not a licensed sponsor. Prove your right to work to an employer:
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For further information, please contact Jo Keenan at  or on .

Priority candidates Thursday 22nd July 2026

All other candidates Tuesday 28th July 2026