HAF-005523 – Part Time Early Help Practitioner in London

Family Support exists to help local families give their children the best possible start in life. The service is collaborative and community-focused, providing proactive, integrated, and preventative support to families most in need, with the aim of creating long-term positive outcomes, reducing reliance on statutory services, and operating sustainably.

We believe strong, loving relationships between children and their caregivers in early life are essential to good physical, mental, and emotional health and to achieving full potential. These relationships are critical to healthy brain development and continue to be important through early adulthood. All adults around a child, including parents, carers, and practitioners, play a role in supporting healthy development.

We recognise that family life can be complex and challenging. Families value support that is joined-up, consistent, and centred around their needs rather than multiple separate services.

The post holder will work as part of a team of front-line practitioners within a locality, delivering high-quality early years care, education, and family support services. They will also contribute to developing early years teaching, learning, and support practices across the organisation. The role requires a suitably qualified individual (for example, Nursery Nurse NVQ Level 3) with experience of working with children and families in an early years setting.

Description of Duties

• Leadership within the Team
  • Supervise and mentor junior colleagues, including Trainee Workers, where required.
  • Model organisational values, behaviours, and best practice, acting as a role model for colleagues.
• Contribution to Practice
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of early years care, learning, and support practices across the organisation.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to build shared resources and networks of expertise.
  • Produce and contribute to resources and guidance for early years practice.
  • Share knowledge and experience with colleagues as part of day-to-day work.
• Front-line Service Delivery
  • Provide high-quality care and education for children aged birth to 5 in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage.
  • Work with families to advise, educate, and coach them on supporting their child’s emotional, health, and learning development.
  • Support junior colleagues with advice and guidance when working with children and families.
  • Act as a first point of contact for families and identify concerns about welfare, referring to appropriate colleagues when additional or safeguarding support is required.
  • Work with families experiencing a range of challenges, including isolation, bereavement, financial hardship, mental health needs, disability, domestic abuse, substance misuse, or parenting difficulties.
  • Develop awareness and working relationships with partner agencies to provide coordinated, preventative support.
  • Ensure children’s and families’ voices are heard, recorded, and reflected in service delivery.
  • Plan, deliver, and evaluate sessions for children and families, including completing records and case notes.
  • Maintain up-to-date case files and complete required documentation.
  • Undertake professional development to keep skills and knowledge current.
  • Deliver services to the highest quality standards, following policies, procedures, and safeguarding requirements, and working in genuine partnership with families.
• Contribution to Wider Leadership
  • Work with a high level of autonomy and promote a culture of creativity and empowerment.
  • Provide occasional support to senior management in contributing to organisational leadership when required.
• The post holder is expected to work flexibly and undertake duties appropriate to the role.

Corporate Responsibilities

• Attend training on brain science, trauma, and wellbeing relevant to the role.
• Support emergency planning and response activities as required.
• Comply with information governance and data protection requirements.
• Adhere to equal opportunities policies and legislation.
• Follow health and safety legislation and organisational procedures.
• Work in accordance with safeguarding policies and raise concerns appropriately.

Person Specification

• Experience and Knowledge
  • Substantial experience in a relevant field such as health, children’s social care, or education.
  • Experience of building relationships with a wide range of people and agencies.
  • Experience of writing and producing reports.
  • AFWI Brain certification to be completed within six months of starting the role.
• Skills and Abilities
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to remain calm under pressure and manage competing priorities.
  • Strong time management and organisational skills.
  • Excellent IT skills, including use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.