Learning & Disabilities Practitioner

Do you have the passion and commitment to make a difference to a child or young person with a disability or complex health need? Are you the special person who could fulfil the role of a Learning and Disabilities Practitioner, giving families a short break to children and young people age 0 to 18 years with a disability or complex health? This is a rewarding and exciting opportunity to join an experienced and dedicated team of Practitioners working across Lincolnshire providing the Children with Disabilities Support Service projects.

The services offer the Early Support Learning Provision for children age 0-5 providing social and learning opportunities on weekdays from a Children Centre or Family Hub in Grantham and Binbrook. The Targeted Positive Activities service is for children and young people age 5 to 18 years and provides Community and Youth groups, for up to 3 hours in the evening and after school and holiday clubs for 5 hours in the holiday periods. These groups run in Grantham and Lincoln offering various activities to support their self-care and independence. This role will be expected to work across both services.

You will work with a small supportive team and be involved in planning and facilitating high-quality sessions that will support young people's targets and increase their confidence. Our aim is to support all children and young people with a disability or complex health needs, working together for all children, young people and families to be happy, healthy, safe and the best they can be. To achieve our aim you will be expected to provide children and young people aged 0-18 years with disabilities and their families high-quality targeted support that promotes self-confidence and independence working as part of an integrated team.

The Early Years Alliance will provide you with exciting training and the opportunity to learn new skills and experiences to support your professional development.

Benefits

• A comprehensive induction and training support package will be provided to the successful candidate.
• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part-time employees.
• Additional annual leave for long service.
• Enhanced sickness pay.
• Employer and employee contribution pension scheme.
• Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well-being.
• Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities.
• A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
• Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
• A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well-being.
• Mileage at 40p per mile from an agreed base.

Main duties of the role

• To facilitate high-quality Early support and Learning provision for children with disabilities or complex health needs from birth to 5 years in Best Start centres while providing parents and caregivers a suitable break from their caring responsibilities.
• To facilitate high-quality community, youth groups and holiday sessions for children with disabilities or complex health needs from 5 to 18 years in local community venues while providing parents and caregivers a suitable break from their caring responsibilities.
• Plan and facilitate these groups and sessions providing a range of appropriate and suitable activities in a safe and welcoming environment, led by the preference and capability of the attending comparable with their peers that promote self-confidence and independence whilst remaining suitable and safe for their abilities.
• Plan, assess and track and monitor children and young people’s progress, particularly in relation to relevant outcomes within their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), where applicable, and self-confidence and independence using various tools such as Tapestry and Outcome Wheels.
• Support parents and caregivers to access advice and support from the Local Offer and promote peer group participation, learning and engagement encouraging mutual support networks to children, young people and their families.

Essential criteria

• NVQ Level 3 in Early Years/Childcare, NVQ 3 Youth/Play work or equivalent and/or have relevant experience of working with children with disabilities or complex needs in their early years or 5-18 years.
• Understanding and knowledge of meeting the individual needs of disabled or complex health needs children and young people.
• Proven effective communication skills – able to communicate effectively in person and in writing, with professionals, staff, early help and social care teams and other professional and organisations.
• Experience of working as an integrated team with other professionals such as social care, early help teams, educational providers, local voluntary organisations and other partners.

This post is fixed term until 31st March 2028. Hours per week: 18. Weeks per year: 52. Interview date: TBC. Please note our virtual interviews take place via Microsoft Teams, you may need to download this prior to your interview.

The Alliance is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation. The charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and equal opportunities in employment.