Children's Navigator - Next Gen (part-time)

Children's Navigator, Next Gen (Canvey Island)

Primary schools across Canvey Island, with travel between schools and occasionally to Socata House, Westcliff-on-Sea

Vacancy listed05/10/2026

Details

Key Responsibilities: Delivering Next Gen Courses

• Plan and deliver one Year 5 course and one Year 6 course at each Canvey Island primary school, in a half-termly rotation. Each course runs for five weeks with a group of six to eight children.
• Deliver engaging, age-appropriate sessions that build emotional wellbeing, confidence and resilience, during or after the school day.
• Adapt sessions and resources to meet the needs of each group, including children with emerging or unmet special educational needs.
• Plan and deliver a Year 6 summer transition group in the first two weeks of the school summer holidays, for pupils who may need extra support with their move to secondary school.
• Where agreed, support the development and delivery of a course for children in elective home education.
• Be familiar with each school's security, evacuation and risk assessment procedures and maintain a high level of safety during every session.

Referrals and Working with Schools

• Use September each year to set up referrals and plan the year's delivery with each school.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with school staff across all ten Canvey Island primary schools.
• Receive referrals from schools and check that children meet the Additional Needs (Level 2) threshold, using the Effective Support Windscreen, and are not already receiving specialist or statutory support.
• Make sure parental consent is in place before a child starts a course.
• Contribute to Team Around the Family meetings and Early Help Plans where helpful.
• Share feedback with schools at the end of each course, in line with consent and data protection requirements.

Working with Parents and Carers

• Work closely with the Family Navigator so that parents and carers of participating children are offered telephone triage and parenting support.
• Keep parents and carers informed about their child's course and encourage their involvement.
• Identify children and families who may benefit from additional support and signpost them to appropriate services.

Safeguarding

• Follow City Family's Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and the SET Child Protection Procedures at all times.
• Supervise children during sessions and protect them from dangerous or harmful situations.
• Record and report any safeguarding concern promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Record any accidents or incidents and keep any other records that may be appropriate.
• Work within City Family's Code of Conduct and Professional Boundaries Policy.

Records, Monitoring and Impact

• Keep accurate, up-to-date records on City Family's case management system.
• Collect course outcome measures, including children's self-reported and teacher-reported emotional wellbeing and school feedback on children's regulation in class.
• Track referrals by school, course completion and reasons for non-completion.
• Contribute to monitoring reports for funders, including case studies and impact statements as required.
• Comply with UK GDPR and City Family's data protection policies.

General

• Attend supervision, team meetings and training, including City Family's mandatory training.
• Provide support to other areas of City Family where needed and agreed, including group co-facilitation.

Person Specification

Essential

• Current or recent experience of working directly with children aged 5 to 11, in a school, youth or community setting.
• Experience of planning and delivering group sessions for children.
• A sound understanding of child development and children's emotional wellbeing.
• A sound understanding of safeguarding procedures.
• A relevant Level 3 qualification in education, childcare, youth work or a related field, or equivalent.
• Level 2 Safeguarding
• A current paediatric first aid certificate.
• Able to build positive relationships with children, school staff and parents and carers.
• Strong IT skills, including a good working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.

Desirable

• Experience of working with children and families experiencing vulnerability, isolation or social exclusion.
• Experience of supporting children with special educational needs, or with emerging needs that have not yet been identified.
• Experience of supporting children through the move from primary to secondary school.
• Knowledge of Essex early help arrangements, including the Effective Support Windscreen.
• Knowledge of the Canvey Island and Castle Point communities.

Skills and Attributes

• A warm, calm and encouraging approach that helps children feel safe and confident.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, removing barriers to access.
• Well organised, able to manage delivery across several schools at once.
• Able to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• A commitment to continuing professional development.

Additional Requirements

• Able to work term time only, plus the first two weeks of the school summer holidays.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to use public transport to travel between schools across Canvey Island.
• Able to work some sessions after the school day.

Equalities

The post-holder must be aware of and respect difference and ensure that children have equality of access to opportunities to grow, learn and develop. They must have an understanding of, and commitment to, equality of opportunity and anti-racism issues.

Policies and Procedures

The post-holder must be aware of and comply with all the organisation's policies and procedures, including those relating to: bribery and corruption, safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, security, and signing agreements and contracts and financial matters. This role description is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will also be required to carry out any other duties which may reasonably be required of you in accordance with the needs of City Family CIC. You are also required to be flexible and adaptable with respect to your role.

Terms and Conditions

• Salary £26,292 per annum FTE (Grade 5) Actual salary £11,268 per annum, based on 15 hours a week
• Hours 15 hours per week (FTE is 35 hours)
• Working Pattern 5 hours per day, three days per week, usually 10.00am to 3.00pm. Working days to be agreed. Some sessions may run after the school day.
• Base and Travel Primary schools across Canvey Island, with occasional travel to Socata House, Westcliff-on-Sea
• Annual Leave including public holidays and the birthday leave day. This is the standard entitlement of 26 days plus the birthday leave day and public holidays Annual leave is to be taken during school holiday periods.
• Pay Arrangements Salary, including holiday pay, is paid in 12 equal monthly instalments across the year.
• Contract Type Fixed term until 31 March 2029
• Notice Period 4 weeks

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and requires an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with a check of the children's barred list. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them. Appointment is also subject to satisfactory references.

Professional Development

• Regular supervision from the Team Leader.
• Induction and training in the Next Gen model and course materials.
• Continuing professional development relevant to working with children and families.
• An annual appraisal against the success measures below.

Success Measures

• Next Gen courses delivered across Canvey Island primary schools to plan, reaching the agreed project targets for the number of children supported.
• High course completion rates, with reasons for non-completion recorded.
• Improved emotional wellbeing for children completing a course, measured through self and teacher report.
• Positive feedback from schools, including children being more regulated in class after a course.
• Parents and carers of participating children offered support through the Family Navigator.
• Accurate and timely records and monitoring data.
• Safeguarding concerns identified, recorded and escalated promptly.

Pension

The table below shows the base contributions and the dates they will rise. You can also choose to give more than the minimum amount, should you wish.

• Date Effective Employer Minimum Contribution Employee Minimum Contribution Total Minimum Contribution
• 6 April 2019 3% 5% 8% These are the statutory minimum automatic enrolment contributions, unchanged since 6 April 2019 and calculated on qualifying earnings.

City Family Organisational Standards

• Be accountable and honest Ensure your actions align with your words and our values. Be truthful, stay committed to your responsibilities, respect confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interest. Own your actions and acknowledge errors promptly, working to rectify them.
• Remain professional and positive Approach situations and interactions with a can-do attitude. Be polite, encourage others and view challenges as opportunities for growth. Be flexible in your approach.
• Respect others Actively listen to others, communicate clearly, avoiding assumptions and judgements. Respond to tasks in a timely manner and treat others with dignity and compassion.
• Be a team player Actively contribute to City Family's vision, support colleagues and value diversity. Provide constructive feedback in a supportive environment.

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