Early Years Inclusion Officer

Directorate: Children and Family Services

Section:SEND

Location: Hazel Trees

Grade: Level 8

Hours: 32.5 hours per week

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

We are looking for a professional, adaptable, and positive Early Years Inclusion Officer to join our fantastic team. The overall purpose of this role is to enable children aged 0 to 5years with additional needs and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to learn, develop, and reach their full potential.

The successful candidate will support the early identification of SEND in line with the graduated approach, ensuring timely intervention and reducing delays in accessing appropriate support. You will plan and deliver high-quality play experiences for young children with complex or high-level needs, while modelling effective practice and developmentally appropriate activities for parents, carers, and early years educators to promote children's development, learning, and inclusion. You will maintain accurate and up-to-date assessments and developmental records for individual children, including recording information on the service database. You will also be a confident communicator, able to build positive relationships with families and professionals, and produce clear, accurate reports and professional advice both verbally and in writing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and deliver inclusive early years programmes through Portage groups, home visits and stay and play sessions
• Support the planning and delivery of multi agency assessment activities
• Contribute to service improvement by reviewing provision, identifying gaps and supporting new initiatives
• Provide advice, guidance and practical strategics to support children with SEND and specific disabilities
• Maintain accurate records of children's progress and produce clear, high quality reports outlining strengths, needs and developmental outcomes

About You:

• Hold a BTEC in Nursery Nursing / Level 4 qualification in Caring for Children and Young People or an equivalent qualification and post qualifying experience
• Have knowledge of what constitutes good practice in Early Years Foundation Stage
• Have extensive knowledge of inclusive early years practice and have an understanding of SEN Code of Practice
• Experience in multi agency working
• Have good written and verbal communication skills

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.