Best Start Inclusion Practitioner

On-site in Walsall·Full-time·Added today (last checked 9 Nov)

Walsall Council

26 open roles

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Our summary

Salary: £36,581 - £39,481 a year
About £2,490 - £2,660 a month after tax.
Work mode: On-site, Walsall
Contract: Full-time
Closing date: Apply by Friday 20 November

Skills

Requirements

A relevant qualification at Level 3 or above in early years, education, SEND, health, family support, community development, management or a related field, or equivalent substantial professional knowledge and experience accepted by the Council.
Evidence of relevant management and continuing professional development, with commitment to maintaining current knowledge of Best Start, SEND, safeguarding and service-improvement practice.

The role

Best Start in Life Practitioner - Ref: CH10026

Salary: G7 SCP 24-27 (£36,581 - £39,481 per annum)
37 hours per week | Permanent | Community-based working

Do you believe every child deserves the best possible start in life?

Are you passionate about inclusion, early intervention and helping children and families overcome barriers before they become bigger challenges?

Walsall Council is recruiting Best Start Inclusion Practitioners to join our growing Best Start in Life team. These exciting new roles will work directly with babies, young children and families, helping to improve outcomes for children with emerging or identified additional needs and supporting children to thrive in their homes, communities, early years settings and schools.

This is a rewarding opportunity to be part of a developing service that places children, families and inclusion at the heart of everything it does.

As a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner, you will provide direct, practical and timely support to children aged 0-5 and their families across Family Hubs, community settings, outreach locations and early years provision.

You will:

Support the early identification of developmental, communication and SEND needs.
Work directly with children and families through observations, short interventions and practical support.
Provide advice, guidance and coaching to parents, carers and practitioners.
Help families access services through referrals, supported introductions and warm handovers.
Support children during key transitions, including entry into early education and Reception.
Work closely with education, health, SEND, Family Help and community partners.
Contribute to inclusive practice, school readiness and improved outcomes for vulnerable children.
Ensure safeguarding concerns are recognised, recorded and escalated appropriately.

You will be part of a supportive team committed to reducing inequalities, improving access to services and ensuring families receive help as early as possible.

We are looking for enthusiastic, compassionate and motivated practitioners who are passionate about making a difference.

You will have:

A full and relevant Level 3 qualification or above in early years, education, health, SEND, child development, social care or a related field.
Experience of working with babies, young children and their families.
Knowledge of child development, inclusion, SEND and early intervention.
Experience of supporting children with emerging or identified additional needs.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
The ability to work confidently with families, practitioners and partner agencies.
Experience of delivering practical support, coaching, interventions or family support.
A commitment to safeguarding and improving outcomes for children.

Most importantly, you will be someone who believes in the potential of every child and is motivated to help families access the support they need.

Read more about our benefits at https://go.walsall.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers-/benefits-of-working-for-us

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an ambitious and growing Best Start in Life programme that is making a real difference across the borough.

At Walsall Council we offer

Meaningful work that directly improves outcomes for children and families.
The opportunity to support children at a crucial stage of development.
A supportive and collaborative team environment.
Strong multi-agency partnerships and learning opportunities.
Local Government Pension Scheme.
Access to learning, development and progression opportunities.
A strong commitment to wellbeing, inclusion and work-life balance

If you would like to know more about this role, please contact: emma.ingram@walsall.gov.uk

View Job Description and Employee Specification

Closing date for applications: 20th November 2026

Must be available for interview week beginning 30th November and 7th December 2026

This post is covered by the Government's Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.

Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. Please see our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.

At Walsall Council, we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole - particularly your 'Supporting Information' - reflects your own voice.

Walsall Council's Children's Services are the only Ofsted 'Outstanding' local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council's journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children's services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.

Lead the day-to-day delivery of Walsall's Best Start in Life inclusion and community engagement programme.
Lead, supervise and develop the Community Champions, ensuring high-quality, safe and consistent practice.
Coordinate activity across Family Hubs, early years, SEND, health, education, family support and community partners to improve access and early identification.
Ensure children and families experience effective pathways, including timely support and warm handovers between services.
Monitor performance, quality, safeguarding and equity of reach, using data, family voice and community intelligence to identify areas for improvement.
Build strong partnerships with services and communities, addressing operational barriers and improving the experience of children and families.
Support continuous improvement through quality assurance, evaluation, workforce development and evidence-informed practice.