Best Start in Life Inclusion Practitioner

Full Time / 37 Hours Per Week / 3 Year Fixed Term due to funding

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape Leicester City's early years inclusion offer and ensure children with emerging Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) receive support at the earliest possible stage.

As a Best Start in Life Inclusion Practitioner, you will be a key part of Leicester City's commitment to delivering early intervention, strengthening inclusion and improving outcomes for babies, young children and their families. Working across Leicester's Family Hub network, you will provide specialist SEND advice, practical support and guidance to families and professionals, helping children access the right support at the right time.

The role sits within the Quality Inclusion Team and brings together expertise from SEND, education, family help and health services. You will work directly with families, Family Hub colleagues, health professionals, early years providers and schools to support early identification, build confidence and promote inclusive practice across the city.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference at a child's earliest stages of development, while helping to build a more inclusive system for families across Leicester.

As a Best Start in Life Inclusion Practitioner, you will:

• Provide specialist SEND advice and support within Family Hubs, helping families understand available support and navigate local services confidently.
• Support the early identification of developmental needs and emerging SEND through observation, discussion and the use of evidence-informed approaches.
• Deliver practical, flexible and targeted support to children aged 0-5 and their families, modelling strategies that build confidence and promote inclusion.
• Work closely with health visitors, schools, nurseries, Area SENDCOs, therapists and other professionals to provide coordinated support for children and families.
• Signpost families to local services, support pathways, parent engagement opportunities and community resources.
• Champion inclusive practice across Family Hubs, coaching and supporting staff to strengthen their confidence in child development, SEND and early intervention.
• Promote effective transitions into early education and school, supporting smooth information sharing and continuity of support
• Contribute to the ongoing development of Leicester's Best Start in Life SEND offer, ensuring services are responsive to the needs of children, families and communities

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• A strong understanding of child development from birth to five and how to identify and respond to emerging additional needs.
• Experience of working directly with children and families, particularly within early years, SEND, education, health or family support services.
• Experience of partnership working across education, health, community or family support services.
• Knowledge of SEND systems, early years provision and family support pathways.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with an ability to explain complex information clearly and sensitively.
• A commitment to strengths-based, family-centred and inclusive practice.
• The ability to work independently, manage priorities and make sound professional judgements.
• A passion for improving outcomes for children and empowering families through early support and intervention.
• A commitment to inclusion, co-production and achieving better outcomes for children, young people and families.

Experience within SEND, early years education, health visiting, family support, children's services or related disciplines would be particularly valuable.

At Leicester City Council, we are committed to ensuring every child gets the best possible start in life.

You'll be joining a forward-thinking and ambitious service that is transforming how families access support. Working alongside experienced colleagues from across education, SEND, health and family help services, you will play a key role in strengthening inclusion, improving family experiences and supporting children to thrive from their earliest years.

In return, we offer:

• A rewarding opportunity to make a lasting difference to children and families.
• The chance to help shape and develop Leicester City's early years inclusion offer.
• A supportive and collaborative team environment.
• Ongoing professional development and learning opportunities.
• Flexible working arrangements where service needs allow.
• A strong commitment to staff wellbeing, inclusion and career development.

We will consider this vacancy on a secondment basis for Leicester City Council employees. If you wish to apply for this post on a secondment basis then please make your line manager aware before applying.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Louise at louise.eames@leicester.gov.uk