At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young children and families in their early development stages through community-led activities.
- Company: Join Barnardo's, a leading charity dedicated to improving children's lives.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, generous annual leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace culture with clear career progression paths.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while nurturing the next generation.
- Qualifications: Experience in early years education and strong relationship-building skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Sandwell
Contract type: Permanent (Fixed term funded post)
End date: 31/03/2029
Hours: 25
Salary: £26003.00 FTE
Closing Date: 25 June 2026
Do you have a passion for working with young children? Are you interested in supporting children and their parents in the earliest stages of development? Are you confident in building relationships with families and finding creative ways to support children's learning while increasing parental confidence? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Early Years Team within Sandwell Best Start Family Hubs.
As a Community Based Early Years Worker, you will play a key role in supporting and developing community-led Stay & Play provision across Sandwell. You will work directly with community groups, volunteers and families to enhance the quality of early years experiences, with a strong focus on communication and language, school readiness and the home learning environment. This is a varied and rewarding role that involves both community and Family Hub-based delivery. You will help strengthen existing groups, support new provision to grow and ensure families are connected to the wider Family Hub offer.
You will:
- Work alongside community providers and volunteers to develop and improve Stay & Play sessions
- Support welcoming, inclusive environments that promote early learning and development
- Encourage and embed positive Home Learning Environment messages with families
- Build strong relationships with parents, carers and partners across the Family Hub Network
- Capture feedback and outcomes to demonstrate the impact of the service
- Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners including Best Start Family Hubs, Family Help, SCVO and the Local Authority Early Years Team
This role is based in Sandwell and requires flexibility to work across the borough. As part of the role, you will be required to work evenings and weekends where needed to meet service demand.
We are looking for an experienced Early Years Practitioner who is passionate, motivated and confident working within community settings. Experience of partnership working and delivering high-quality early years provision will be essential.
To find out more about the role, please read the Additional Information and ensure your application demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the post.
Benefits:
- Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service.
- The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme.
- A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options.
- Service related sick pay from day 1.
- Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's.
- Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension.
- Cycle2work scheme.
- Interest free season ticket loans.
- Discounts and cashback from high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal.
- 20% discount at Barnardo's stores.
- Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc.
- Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support.
- Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer.
About Barnardo's:
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
Community Early Years Worker employer: BARNARDOS
Barnardo's is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for its employees in Sandwell. With a strong focus on employee growth, the organisation offers flexible working arrangements, generous annual leave, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes professional development opportunities and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Joining our Early Years Team means being part of a passionate community that values your contributions and empowers you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families.
