Best Start Inclusion Assistant (2 Posts)

Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Derbyshire County Council is seeking Best Start Inclusion Assistants to support families with children aged 0-5 across the Best Start Family Hub network. You will be a welcoming presence, offering information and practical assistance in hubs, community settings and with partners.

In this role you will help families navigate services, work with professionals, and run drop-ins and short workshops to improve early support for young children and their families.

Qualifications

• Understanding of child development from birth to five.
• Knowledge of SEND and inclusive practice.
• Experience supporting families in community or early years settings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Family Navigation: help families understand local services, inclusion pathways, and childcare entitlements.
• Joined-Up Working: collaborate with health services, early years providers, SEND teams and partners.
• Direct Support: support drop-ins, short-term workshops and family sessions at Family Hubs and community networks.

Skills

Child development

SEND knowledge

Communication

Empathy

Teamwork

Education

Level 2 qualification

Job description

Closing date: 04 October 2026

We are looking for passionate, proactive individuals to join our Portage Service as Best Start Inclusion Assistants (BSIAs) working alongside our Best Start Inclusion Practitioners within our newly developed Best Start Family Hubs.

With opportunities available across our Family Hub network in Derbyshire, you'll be based within a local community, building trusted relationships and providing early, accessible support where it can have the greatest impact. You'll support families with children aged 0-5 who may have emerging or identified needs and support the connection for families with the right support at the right time.

If you're committed to supporting inclusion and want to make a real difference in the lives of young children and families, this is an exciting opportunity to join our Best Start Family Hub Team and help shape its future.

The Opportunity

As a Best Start Inclusion Assistant, you will be a welcoming and trusted presence in Best Start Family Hubs and across the community network, you will play a key role in creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment for families and partners. Working as part of a friendly team, you will provide information and practical assistance across Family Hubs, community settings and with partners.

You will be providing support in the following ways:

• Family Navigation: Helping families understand and navigate local services including inclusion pathways, financial support, community resources and access to childcare entitlements.
• Joined-Up Working: Collaborating with health services, early years providers, and local SEND teams and community partners to provide joined up support.
• Direct Support: Supporting the running of 'drop-ins' and short-term early support workshops, and family sessions at Family Hubs and across the Best Start community network

About You

To be successful in this role, you'll ideally have…

We're looking for someone who:

• Builds trusting relationships and communicates with families in a supportive, approachable way
• Recognises and responds to a child's Special Educational Needs, taking a practical, empathetic approach, supporting parents / carers as first educators of their child.
• Works effectively with colleagues across the community network and in partnership with other professionals.
• Is committed to inclusion and improving outcomes for children and families

You’ll also have:

• Understanding of child development from birth to five and knowledge of SEND and inclusion.
• Experience of supporting families in community, early years or similar settings.
• Effective communication skills both written and verbal with the ability to explain pathways, processes and support clearly and accessibly.
• A relevant Level 2 qualification

Above all, you'll be approachable, compassionate and committed to helping children and families thrive through high-quality early support.

For any further information please contact Samantha Cardwell, email [e-mail] or telephone [phone]

Provisional Interview date: 22nd October 2026