Inclusion Practitioner

Dorset is progressing the development ofBest Start Family Hubsas the core model for delivering integrated support for children aged 0–5 and their families. This approach brings together early help, health, early years and inclusion services to provide accessible, coordinated support within local communities, with a clear focus on improving outcomes for children and families, including school readiness and the Good Level of Development.

As part of this programme, the Department for Education has provided further clarification on the Best Start Inclusion Practitioner (BSIP) role, reinforcing expectations for a visible, accessible, family-facing workforce that supports earlier identification of need and inclusive practice.

We are now moving into delivery of this model in Dorset and are inviting expressions of interest for these exciting newfixed-termroles.

Best Start Inclusion Practitioners will play a key role within Dorset's Best Start Family Hub network, strengthening early support for children aged 0–5 with emerging oradditionalSEND needs and their families. The posts are 30 hours, and fixed termuntil 31 March 2029.

BSIPs will be part of the Best Start Workforce, reporting to the Best Start Workforce and Practice Lead.

Working across Family Hubs and Network Sites,these Practitionerswillprovidevisible, accessible support to families while helping to strengthen inclusive practice across the Best Start Family Hub network.

There are 8 positions currently being recruited and each practitioner will be based in an existing Family Hub location:
North x 1, Purbeck X 2, East x 2, Chesil x 1 Dorchester & West x 2

This is a highly relational, community-based role focused on:

• providing earlySEND-related information, advice, guidance and reassurance to parents and carers who have concerns about their child's development oradditionalneeds
• helping families understand available support, navigateservicesand access help at the earliest opportunity
• promoting and modelling inclusive practice within Family Hubs and community settings
• supporting children with SENDandtheirfamilies to access inclusive groups,activities and services
• working alongside partners to create a more joined-up, preventative and family-centred system of support
• contributing practice-based insight that helps strengthen the consistency and quality of support available across the Family Hub network.

BSIPs will not hold long-term caseloads of children or families. Instead, they will act as a trusted and approachable source of SEND-related advice,guidance and inclusion support at the earliest point of need.

National Best Start guidance sets out clear expectations for the role:

• each Family Hub will have access to a named Best Start Inclusion Practitioner(BSIP)
• BSIPs will be visible and accessible within Family Hubs, Network Sitesand community settings
• practitioners will undertake outreach activity, including home visits where appropriate
• approximately 75% ofthe BSIP’stime will be spent delivering direct support to families in their designated Family Hub through:
  • drop-in sessions
  • booked appointments
  • group activities
  • Best Start Family Hub delivery and events
• the remaining time will support partnership working, inclusive practice and engagement with early years settings and other services.

In Dorset, BSIPs will work as part of an integrated Best Start Family Hub team alongside:

• Best Start in Life Advisors
• Best Start Parenting and Activity Practitioners
• Best Start Family Navigators
• Early Years Leads& early years settings
• Health and SEND partners
• Voluntary and community sector organisations.

Together, these roles will help ensure families experience coordinated, accessible and inclusive support, reducing duplication…