At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families and children under 5 to ensure school readiness and holistic development.
- Company: Join Wirral Council, a community-focused organisation making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive leave, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive team that values every voice and contribution.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on children's lives and help families thrive.
- Qualifications: Experience with children aged 0-5 and understanding of child protection policies.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 36840 £ per year.
Wirral Council is a place where your work truly makes a difference. Employees are empowered to “#BeTheDifference” and help improve life for residents across one of the happiest and most welcoming areas in the UK. With its stunning coastline, vibrant communities, and ambitious vision for the future, Wirral offers an exceptional setting to grow your career and feel valued every day. If you’re looking for a role where you can thrive, develop, and make real impact, Wirral Council is the perfect place to apply.
An exciting opportunity has arisen in Wirral's Early Childhood Service to recruit a full time School Readiness Worker for a 2-year fixed term contract, based at Seacombe Family Hub, covering the Wallasey locality. Wirral's Family Hubs are accredited as Baby Friendly providers by UNICEF and School Readiness Workers are key to supporting families with responsive infant feeding support. Through early intervention, partnership working, and a focus on children's holistic development, they help ensure that children arrive at school ready not just to learn, but to thrive.
School Readiness Workers play a vital role in delivering the ambition of giving every child the best start in life by delivering universal support to families with children under the age of 5 years, with the aim of supporting parents and carers positively impact their child's development.
About the Role: The role involves working with parents/carers to support their children's individual needs and provide inclusive support for all, both in the community and in a family's home environment. You will work collaboratively with partners such as health, early years settings, schools, youth and community organisations to ensure that all agencies are collectively supporting the family to meet their child's holistic needs appropriately. Your work will contribute to improved educational outcomes, stronger family relationships, and better long-term life chances for children and communities.
About the Candidate: The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of working with children aged 0-5, in more than one type of setting. You will have a good understanding of OFSTED standards and experience of implementing them. You will also have an understanding of child protection policy and procedure, with the ability to work with a wide range of people including parents, partners and agencies within a multi-disciplinary team setting. This is an exciting role and one that is crucial to improving children's daily lived experiences and promoting positive outcomes. If you are creative, driven and have the needs of families and children at the heart of your work, then we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact School Readiness Co-ordinator, Caitlin Allen: caitlinallen@wirral.gov.uk should you have any questions about the role. This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, including a check of the relevant Barred List(s).
Working at Wirral: Our values are more than just pieces of paper on our walls! We’ve all played a role in developing these, so they reflect the immense pride we have in what we do, what matters to us, what inspires us and inform how we think, approach things and behave. We believe in ensuring staff are well looked after, staff wellbeing is a priority for us. We’re serious about recognising and rewarding people for the great things they do. You’ll benefit from our track record of developing, growing and investing in our people. We have a range of staff benefits including staff discounts, enrolment into the local government pension scheme (an excellent defined benefit scheme), immediate life cover and ill-health protection. We have a strong flexible working approach, hybrid working, family-friendly employment initiatives and an annual leave package starting with 28 days leave plus public holidays. We have an inclusive, engaged culture, everyone has a voice, everyone is valued for their contribution and understands the role they play in delivering our strategic priorities. We embrace diversity in our workforce and recognise it is critical to our success. We support an inclusive culture that champions differences and nurtures a sense of belonging. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds, who share our values and our commitment to inclusion to apply for roles with us.
If you’d like us to do anything differently during the recruitment process to make it barrier-free and as accessible as possible please contact recruitment@wirral.gov.uk. Please note that in accordance with the Council’s policy, employees who are in a formal redeployment situation will be considered in the first instance for all vacancies. Applications will be accepted until midnight on the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications. Applications can only be accepted through the Jobs page following registration. Forms received via the post will not be processed. All applicants invited to interview must evidence their right to work in the UK.
School Readiness Worker employer: Wirral Jobs
Joining Wirral Council means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a real difference in the community. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, professional development, and an inclusive culture, we offer a supportive environment where your contributions are valued. Enjoy competitive benefits, flexible working arrangements, and the opportunity to play a pivotal role in improving educational outcomes for children and young people in a vibrant location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land School Readiness Worker
✨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 Wirral Jobs.
✨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 Wirral Jobs!
✨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 Wirral Jobs, 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 Wirral Jobs 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 School Readiness Worker
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 Wirral Jobs:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Wirral Jobs! 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 Wirral Jobs
✨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.
