Best Start Inclusion Co-ordinator

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council; Brierley Hill; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a Best Start in Life Inclusion Coordinator to lead the early years SEND and inclusion across five Best Start Family Hubs. You will supervise practitioners, develop an integrated model, and partner with education, health and community organisations to improve outcomes for children aged 0-5.

Join a transformative programme to shape services, drive performance, and ensure unified pathways for families in Dudley.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading teams caring for 0-5 children with SEND or emerging needs.
• Strong knowledge of SEND legislation and early years inclusion.
• Experience of managing staff, leading change and service improvement.
• Proven ability to work across complex multi‑agency systems.
• Excellent communication, coaching and relationship-building skills.
• Experience of using data to drive improvements and monitor performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Best Start Inclusion model across Dudley.
• Provide line management and professional leadership for Best Start Inclusion Practitioners.
• Build partnerships across education, health, early help, family hubs, and voluntary sector.
• Drive quality assurance, performance monitoring and continuous improvement.
• Ensure joined-up, coordinated support and clear pathways for families.
• Support the delivery of SEND Strategy and Best Start in Life ambitions.
• Champion co-production and ensure voices of children, parents and carers shape service development.
• Use data and evidence to demonstrate impact and reduce inequalities.

Skills

Line management

Leadership

Partnership building

Data-driven improvement

Communication

Multi-agency collaboration

Tools

Evidence-based practice

Performance management

Job description

Best Start in Life Inclusion Coordinator - Leading Early Years SEND and Inclusion Across Dudley's Best Start Family Hubs

Grade 10

Children's Services - Integrated Early Years Service/Best Start Family Hubs - 37 hours per week

Fixed Term till March 2029

Help shape Dudley's future for children with SEND

We are looking for an ambitious, creative and passionate leader to join our Integrated Early Years Service as our new Best Start in Life Inclusion Coordinator.

This exciting new role will provide leadership for Dudley's Best Start in Life Inclusion Practitioners, ensuring a consistent, high-quality and integrated early years SEND offer across our five Best Start Family Hubs.

Working at the heart of our Best Start in Life and SEND strategies, you will develop and lead an innovative model that supports early identification, early intervention and inclusion for children aged 0-5 with emerging or identified special educational needs and disabilities.

This is a unique opportunity to influence system-wide change, bring partners together and ensure every child has the best possible start in life.

What you’ll be doing

You will:

• Lead and develop the Best Start Inclusion model across Dudley.
• Provide line management, supervision and professional leadership for a team of Best Start Inclusion Practitioners.
• Build strong partnerships across education, health, early help, family hubs and voluntary sector organisations.
• Drive quality assurance, performance monitoring and continuous improvement.
• Ensure families experience joined-up, coordinated support and clear pathways.
• Support the delivery of Dudley's SEND Strategy, Best Start in Life ambitions and Family Hub programme.
• Champion co-production and ensure the voices of children, parents and carers shape service development.
• Use data and evidence to demonstrate impact and reduce inequalities across communities.

About you

• Significant experience working with children aged 0-5 with SEND or emerging needs.
• Strong knowledge of SEND legislation, early years inclusion and early intervention.
• Experience of managing staff, leading change and improving services.
• A proven ability to work across complex multi-agency systems.
• Excellent communication, coaching and relationship-building skills.
• Experience of performance management, quality assurance and using data to drive improvement.
• A passion for inclusion, collaboration and achieving better outcomes for children and families.

Why join us?

At Dudley, we are committed to giving every child the best possible start in life. You will have the opportunity to shape a new service, influence strategic development and work alongside passionate colleagues across children's services, health and education.

Together, we are building an ambitious and inclusive system where children and families can thrive.

Help us create a more inclusive future for Dudley's youngest children.

Workplace Attendance: Onsite full time

All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK.

Please note: Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK.

Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness. The Council will check, share and cross match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so.

The Council's full Privacy and Disclaimer Statement can be accessed on the website at https://www.dudley.gov.uk/privacy-disclaimer-statement/

N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications

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Attached documents

• Best Start in Life Coordinator 2026 JD PS.pdf
• Employee Benefits List.pdf