Inclusion Practitioner

Salary £33,119 - £35,570 Salary Band £30,001 to £40,000 Post Type Fixed Term Hours Per Week Full time

Categories Social Care - Children Service
Directorate N/A Published Date 06/10/2026 Closing Date 25/10/2026

The right support at the right time can make a lasting difference to a child and their family.

We are looking for a warm, curious and knowledgeable Best Start Inclusion Practitioner to join Darlington’s growing Best Start Family Hub network.

This is a new, family-facing role supporting families with children aged 0 to 5 when there are early questions or concerns about development, inclusion, participation or access to services.

You will help families recognise their child’s strengths, understand their development and feel confident about what they can do next. This might involve sharing practical ideas, modelling play and interaction, helping a family access an activity or connecting them with the right support.

You will not wait for a diagnosis before offering help. Your starting point will be to listen, build trust and work alongside families to understand what matters to them.

What will the role involve?

You will be a visible and approachable presence within a named Best Start Family Hub and its wider network. At least 75% of your time will be spent working directly with children and families across Family Hubs, network sites, community locations and, where appropriate, family homes.

No two days will be exactly the same. You could be:

• talking with a parent or carer who has questions about their child’s development.
• sharing practical ideas to support communication, play, interaction and home learning.
• helping families overcome barriers to taking part in activities or accessing services.
• contributing to inclusive groups, drop-ins, stay-and-play sessions and outreach activity.
• reaching out to families whose children are not attending, or are not known to be attending, an early year setting.
• using agreed information to help identify children who may benefit from earlier support.
• working with families and professionals to agree practical next steps; or
• helping to coordinate support so families do not have to keep repeating their story.
• You will work closely with Health Visiting, Early Years Inclusion, SEND, Family Help, early years providers, the Families Information Service and voluntary and community partners.

This is not a diagnostic, statutory SEND assessment or case holding role. It is a practical and relational role focused on children’s development, inclusion, belonging and participation.

About you

You will have a relevant Level 3 qualification or above and experience of working directly with children aged 0 to 5 and their families.

You will understand child development and be able to turn that knowledge into practical, sensitive and helpful support.

You will be someone who:

• listens carefully and communicates with warmth and respect.
• recognises parents and carers as experts in their child.
• notices children’s strengths as well as areas where support may be helpful.
• offers advice without making families feel blamed or judged.
• understands that inclusion means belonging, participating and being welcomed.
• can build trust with families from different backgrounds and communities.
• works well with colleagues from different professional backgrounds.
• understands safeguarding, consent, confidentiality and appropriate information sharing.
• can work independently and organise a community-based workload; and
• is reflective, reliable and open to learning.

The right support at the right time can make a lasting difference to a child and their family.

We are looking for a warm, curious and knowledgeable Best Start Inclusion…