Best Start in Life Advisor - E&P

Dorset Council; Ferndown; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Ferndown is seeking a passionate individual to support children and families in the Dorset Council Area. The role involves building best practice in early years settings, ensuring all children can access their entitlements, and providing essential training. Candidates should have relevant degrees and significant experience working with young children.

Benefits

Access to training opportunities

Support for personal development

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Significant experience working with young children in early years settings.
• Experience in leading and managing practices in childcare.
• Ability to develop training for adults across various settings.

Responsibilities

• Build capacity of practitioners for effective child support.
• Ensure children with SEND can access entitlements.
• Support early identification of needs for under-3s.

Skills

Passionate

Organised

Solution focused

Creative approaches

Education

Degree in relevant early years area

Training in early years special educational needs and/or disabilities

Job description

Qualifications

To apply for this role, you have to be a passionate, enthusiastic, organised and solution focused individual. Aspiring to bring the best outcomes to Children and Families within the Dorset Council Area.

Essential Qualifications:

• Degree qualified (or equivalent) in relevant early years area
• Training in early years special educational needs and/or disabilities

Experiences:

• Significant relevant experience of working with young children e.g., early years setting, EYFS or Key Stage 1 in a school, registered childminder
• Leading and managing practice in a childcare setting
• Developing creative approaches to improve practice in an early years setting
• Writing and delivering training to adults
• Leading workshops, events, training, meetings, and presentations in relevant subject matter
• Working with a range of childcare practitioners including childminders, childcare on domestic premises, pre-schools, nurseries, and wraparound settings

This role is varied, and the main areas of focus will be:

• building the capacity of practitioners to meet the individual needs of all children, but particularly those at risk of poor outcomes.
• ensuring that children with a SEND need are able to take up their full entitlement.
• supporting early identification of need, particularly in relation to new entitlements for children under 3.
• supporting new and existing providers as part of a wider locality team.
• facilitating effective transition arrangements between providers for those children with emerging needs or SEND.
• taking responsibility for developing and leading training sessions around inclusion issues including effective use of the Early Years Ordinarily Available Provision in the setting.
• disseminating information about early years entitlements and other funding streams, particularly those related to SEND and
• support providers to make best use of any additional funds.
• supporting the delivery of the Dorset Council Best Start in Life ambitions in the Children Young People and Families Plan 2023-2033

For a further discussion please contact Rachel Nesbitt at [email protected], call 01305225988 or contact Rebekka Welch at [email protected], call 01305 221958.

Further Information

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.

Vacancy Is Being Advertised Internally To

• our employees
• agency workers currently working for us
• casual workers currently working for us

If we cannot appoint someone, the vacancy may then open to external candidates.

Employees working within a school are not considered internal applicants.

If chosen for interview please come prepared to present your ten minute answer to the following question:

• 'Can you tell us what your priorities would be in the first 90 days as a Best Start in Life Advisor?'

About Us

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We

• provide essential services that support over 380,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You Will

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.