At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to support children with additional needs and promote inclusive practices.
- Company: Halton Borough Council, a vibrant local authority dedicated to community improvement.
- Benefits: 34 days holiday, pension scheme, flexible working, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive team and enjoy a dynamic work environment with growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a lasting impact on children's lives and shape inclusive services in your community.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and experience in leadership or early years services.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Location: Halton Borough Council
Closing Date: 16/08/2026
Job Category: Early Years
Directorate: Children's Services Directorate
Department: Children's Social Care (Children and Families)
Job Introduction
Our Story: Halton is a vibrant local authority with a rich history and heritage, featuring two iconic bridges that connect communities across the River Mersey. Located in Cheshire, Halton boasts excellent transport links between Liverpool and Manchester, as well as close proximity to both Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester Airports. Our progressive community strategy aims to bring about meaningful, long-term improvements that enhance lives.
Our Team: Halton Family Hubs support children and young people from birth to age 19 (or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities). Bringing together council, health and community services, we ensure that children, young people and families can access the right support, at the right time, in the right place. Our Family Hubs provide welcoming and inclusive spaces, both in local communities and through outreach services, where families can access practical, non-judgemental support.
As part of the Government's Best Start for Life and Family Hubs programme, Halton is strengthening its early identification and inclusion offer for babies and young children with emerging or additional needs. We are therefore creating a Best Start Inclusion Team to work collaboratively with other professionals to promote inclusion, strengthen family confidence and improve access to services.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a developing service at the forefront of early identification, inclusion and family support, helping to shape and embed Halton's Family Hub SEND offer and make a lasting difference for children and families. The post will be based within one of Halton's Family Hubs and applicants are invited to express a preference for being based in either Runcorn or Widnes as part of the application process. Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate preferences, the successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly across all Family Hub locations and partner settings across the borough.
Your Contributions:
We are seeking an enthusiastic, committed and confident leader to be the Best Start Inclusion Coordinator in our Family Hubs team. You will be passionate about improving outcomes for babies and young children with emerging or additional needs, supporting families to access the right help early, and promoting inclusive practice across Halton's Best Start for Life and Family Hub network.
This is a key leadership role that will oversee and support a team of Best Start Inclusion Practitioners (BSIPs), ensuring high-quality, consistent and impactful delivery of early identification and inclusion support for babies and young children with emerging or additional needs. The role will be instrumental in embedding inclusive practice across Family Hubs and helping to deliver the Government's ambition for children to have the best possible start in life.
You will provide operational leadership, supervision and practice oversight to the BSIP team, supporting staff development, quality assurance, performance monitoring and effective partnership working. As well this, you'll work closely with colleagues across health, SEND, early years, education, social care and the voluntary and community sector to strengthen pathways, remove barriers and improve outcomes for children and families.
You will build strong relationships, use data and insight to drive improvement, and translate national policy and local priorities into effective operational practice.
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification in early years, education, health, SEND, social care or a related field, or be able to demonstrate significant relevant experience
- Experience of operational leadership or first-line management within Early Years, SEND, Early Help or Family Support services
- Experience of providing supervision, guidance and support to practitioners
- Experience of effective multi-agency working and partnership development
- Experience of using data, performance information and practice insight to support service improvement and decision making
- A strong understanding of child development, inclusion and early intervention for children aged 0-5
- A good working knowledge of SEND systems, pathways and early identification processes
- The ability to analyse, interpret and present operational information clearly and effectively
- Confidence in chairing meetings, facilitating discussions and leading collaborative problem-solving
- Excellent communication, organisational and relationship-building skills
We would particularly welcome applications from individuals with:
- Experience of service development, transformation or continuous improvement activity
- Knowledge of Family Hub delivery models and Early Years SEND policy
- Experience of working alongside parent carer forums, community groups or voluntary sector organisations
If you are an inspiring and collaborative leader with a commitment to inclusion and early intervention, and are excited by the opportunity to help shape and lead a new service that will make a lasting difference to children and families across Halton, we would love to hear from you.
Our Offer:
- A generous annual holiday allowance starting at 34 days per year (including bank holidays), increasing with long service
- Membership of our defined benefit, salary-linked Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions
- 3 x Salary Life Cover via Local Government Pension Scheme
- Investment in your personal development
- Free Car Parking at HBC sites
- Flexible working arrangements
- Extensive employee benefits platform including discounted shopping, car leasing, gym memberships, wellbeing hub and Employee Assistance Programme
At Halton Borough Council we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce and a vital part of this is to encourage diversity in all respects. We are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and tailored to best suit the needs and strength of the individual. This includes making adjustments for people with a disability, neurodiversity or with long-term health conditions. If you require accommodations, please reach out during the recruitment process so that we can make this the best possible experience for you.
Best Start Inclusion Co-ordinator employer: Halton Borough Council
Halton Borough Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of both employees and the families they serve. With competitive pay and the flexibility of hybrid working, social workers have the opportunity to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact in the community. The council is committed to fostering employee development, ensuring that staff are equipped with the skills and resources needed to thrive in their roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Best Start Inclusion Co-ordinator
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Halton Borough Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Halton Borough Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Halton Borough Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Halton Borough Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Best Start Inclusion Co-ordinator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Halton Borough Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Halton Borough Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Halton Borough Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
