Best Start Inclusion Practitioner

Shared Services Partnership; Eastleigh; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Assured EAP

Generous annual leave

LGPS pension

Job summary

Hampshire County Council is seeking a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner to work with children aged 0-5 with additional needs. The role is based at the Rookwood Centre, Eastleigh, 37 hours per week, permanent contract, with 18.5 hours possible for part-time.

Salary £34,273–£37,570 per annum, closing 6 December 2026. You will work across Best Start Family Hubs, coordinating with health, education and SEND services to ensure timely, inclusive support and better developmental outcomes for young

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification in early years or related field.
• Experience with children aged 0-5 with SEND and their families.
• Experience of multi-agency working across education, health and family services.
• Strong knowledge of early child development, early intervention and SEND pathways.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support, advice and interventions to families with children aged 0-5 with emerging or identified needs.
• Use observation and screening tools to identify needs early and plan support.
• Collaborate with health, education and family services to coordinate support and improve outcomes.
• Promote inclusive practice across Best Start Family Hub network and early years settings.
• Maintain records, monitor progress and evaluate impact in line with safeguarding requirements.

Skills

Level 3 qualification in early years

Education

Level 3 qualification in early years/related field

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Job Reference: HCC625347
Salary Range: £34,273 - £37,570 per annum
Work Location: Rookwood Centre, Eastleigh
Hours per week: 37 (part-time hours will be considered at 18.5 hours per week)
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 6 December 2026

Interview Date: 14 December 2026

The Role:

As a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner, you'll play a vital role in helping young children with emerging or identified additional needs access the right support at the earliest opportunity. Working across the Best Start Family Hubs network, you'll champion inclusion, improve developmental outcomes and help ensure every child has the best possible start in life.

This is a rewarding role where you'll work directly with children and families, build strong partnerships with professionals across health, education and SEND services, and contribute to a coordinated, responsive support system. Your work will help reduce inequalities, strengthen family confidence and ensure more children can reach their full potential through timely, inclusive support.

What you'll do:

• Provide direct support, advice and interventions to families with children aged 0-5 who have emerging or identified additional needs.
• Use evidence-based observation and screening tools to identify needs early and help plan appropriate support.
• Work collaboratively with health, early years, schools, SEND, local parent groups and community and voluntary sector partners to coordinate support and improve outcomes.
• Promote inclusive practice across the Best Start Family Hub network and early years settings, supporting access to early education entitlements and successful transitions into school.
• Maintain accurate records, monitor progress and evaluate impact, ensuring all work is delivered in line with safeguarding and information governance requirements.

What we're looking for:

• Level 3 qualification in early years, education, health, SEND, child development or a related field.
• Experience of working with children aged 0-5 with SEND and their families.
• Experience of multi-agency working across education, health and family services.
• Strong knowledge of early child development, early intervention, inclusive practice and SEND pathways.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently, manage challenging situations and use sound professional judgement.

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Best Start Inclusion Practitioner role, team and our values. The About you section explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements and demonstrate our values, in your application.

• Make a meaningful difference to children's lives by ensuring families receive the right support at the right time.
• Be part of a collaborative, values-driven service that is committed to inclusion, early intervention and improving outcomes for local families.
• Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
• Competitive benefits package, including generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information here.

Looking for a different location? We also have opportunities available within our Best Start Family Hubs in Basingstoke and Aldershot. Visit our careers site to view all current vacancies and find the role that's right for you.

Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received, therefore the advert may close early.

Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK.

Other job titles you may be searching for include: Early Years Inclusion Practitioner, Early Help Practitioner, Family Support Practitioner, SEND Practitioner, Family Hub Practitioner, Child Development Practitioner, Early Intervention Practitioner, Inclusion Support Practitioner.

Travel Requirements:

You will be required to travel to various locations within Hampshire, and it is essential that you have a current driver's licence and access to a reliable vehicle on a regular basis.

The post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children's Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.