At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support a team to help young children with additional needs thrive.
- Company: Join Halton Borough Council's Family Hubs team making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 34 days holiday, pension scheme, flexible working, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with strong community impact and career growth potential.
- Why this job: Be a key player in promoting inclusive practices for children and families.
- Qualifications: Degree in early years or related field, plus leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
Overview
Halton Borough Council is seeking an enthusiastic, collaborative leader to join the Family Hubs team as the Best Start Inclusion Coordinator.
The role supports babies and young children with emerging or additional needs, helping families access the right help early and promoting inclusive practice across Halton's Best Start for Life and Family Hub network.
The post is based within a Halton Family Hub; applicants can express a preference for Runcorn or Widnes.
The successful candidate will work flexibly across all Family Hub locations and partner settings within the borough.
- Your Contributions / Responsibilities
- Provide operational leadership, supervision and practice oversight to the Best Start Inclusion Practitioners (BSIPs).
- Ensure high-quality, consistent and impactful delivery of early identification and inclusion support for babies and young children with emerging or additional needs.
- Embed inclusive practice across Family Hubs and deliver the Government's ambition for children to have the best possible start in life.
- Lead and shape a developing service, support a skilled workforce and contribute to the development of Halton's Best Start Family Hub SEND offer.
- Collaborate 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.
- Use data and insight to drive improvement and translate national policy and local priorities into effective operational practice.
- Provide operational leadership, supervision and practice oversight to ensure staff development, quality assurance, performance monitoring and effective partnership working.
- Build strong relationships with partners, chair meetings, facilitate discussions and lead collaborative problem-solving.
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification in early years, education, health, SEND, social care or a related field, or demonstrable significant relevant experience.
- Experience of operational leadership or first-line management within Early Years, SEND, Early Help or Family Support services.
- Experience providing supervision, guidance and support to practitioners.
- Experience of effective multi-agency working and partnership development.
- Experience using data, performance information and practice insight to support service improvement and decision making.
- Strong understanding of child development, inclusion and early intervention for children aged 0-5.
- Good working knowledge of SEND systems, pathways and early identification processes.
- 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.
Desirable Experience
- Experience of service development, transformation or continuous improvement activity.
- Knowledge of Family Hub delivery models and Early Years SEND policy.
- Experience of working with parent carer forums, community groups or voluntary sector organisations.
- Our Offer / Benefits
- Generous annual holiday allowance starting at 34 days per year (including bank holidays), increasing with long service.
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions.
- 3 x Salary Life Cover via LGPS.
- Investment in your personal development.
- Free car parking at Halton Borough Council sites.
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Extensive employee benefits platform including discounted shopping, car leasing, gym memberships, wellbeing hub and Employee Assistance Programme.
- Next Steps / How to Apply
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Adam Hindhaugh at Adam.
Hindhaugh@halton. gov. uk.
Interviews are expected to take place in the week commencing 24 August.
If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact resourcing@halton. gov. uk.
Please refer to the attached Job Profile for further information about the role and our values.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications.
Please complete your application as early as possible.
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Best Start Inclusion Co-ordinator in Widnes 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 in Widnes
✨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 in Widnes
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.
