At a Glance
- Tasks: Support babies and families through inclusive practices and early intervention.
- Company: Join North Northamptonshire Council's Family Hub team, shaping the future of family support.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive, innovative team committed to improving outcomes for children.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and help families thrive.
- Qualifications: Relevant qualifications or experience in early years, SEND, or social care.
The predicted salary is between 30023 - 31015 £ per year.
About the role
Making every child's best start inclusive, supportive and full of opportunity. To deliver high-quality, inclusive support to babies, young children and their families across a Locality Family Hub network, with a focus on early identification and support for children with additional or emerging needs. The Best Start Inclusion Practitioner (BSIP) will be a visible and accessible presence within a named Family Hub network, supporting families through direct work, group delivery and outreach, including home visits where appropriate. The role will promote inclusive practice across early years and Family Hub services, contributing to improved outcomes such as school readiness, early language development and parent-child relationships, in line with Best Start Family Hub guidance.
What will you be doing?
- Support babies, young children and families through early intervention and inclusive practice.
- Identify children with additional or emerging needs and help ensure timely support.
- Provide advice, guidance and support through Family Hub sessions, outreach and appointments.
- Deliver direct support through one-to-one work, groups and home visits.
- Contribute to SEND reforms and provide practical support to families and professionals.
- Promote inclusive practice across Family Hubs and early years settings.
- Work with partners to improve early identification, inclusion and access to support.
- Support children's development, including communication, emotional wellbeing and family relationships.
- Help improve school readiness and reduce inequalities through targeted support.
- Use a strengths-based, whole-family approach in line with Family Hub and Family Help guidance.
About you
- Relevant qualification (e.g. early years, SEND, health, education, social care) or equivalent experience.
- Experience of working with babies and young children (0–5) and their families.
- Experience of supporting children with additional needs.
- Understanding of child development, including early language and social/emotional development.
- Experience of working in a community or family-facing role.
- Understanding of safeguarding and early help approaches.
- Ability to build positive relationships with families and engage those less likely to access services.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to recognise early signs of need and provide appropriate support.
- Ability to work independently and manage a community-based workload.
- Ability to work effectively with partners across services.
- Good organisational and time management skills.
- Commitment to improving outcomes for babies, children and families.
- Commitment to inclusion and supporting children with additional needs.
- Ability to work in a strengths-based, respectful and family-centred way.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Willingness to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends where required.
Our benefits
Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people. You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!
Why choose us? We offer a vibrant working environment with:
- a competitive salary
- a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council.
- generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days.
- hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.
About us
Our Values and Behaviours
Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are: Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive, Trustworthy.
Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.
Disability Confident Employer
We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.
Our Employment and Disability Service provides bespoke support to individuals facing barriers to employment, helping them work towards their goals to start, stay and succeed in employment.
Best Start Inclusion Practitioner - Fixed Term Contract in Northampton employer: North Northants
North Northamptonshire Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee development through hands-on experience and formal training via the Level 6 Public Health Practitioner Apprenticeship. With a focus on collaboration and community impact, employees are encouraged to grow their skills while contributing to meaningful public health initiatives in a vibrant and diverse region.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Best Start Inclusion Practitioner - Fixed Term Contract in Northampton
✨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 North Northants.
✨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 North Northants!
✨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 North Northants, 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 North Northants 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 Practitioner - Fixed Term Contract in Northampton
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 North Northants:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to North Northants! 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 North Northants
✨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.
