Best Start Inclusion Practitioner

City of York Council; York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave allowance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Health & Wellbeing initiatives

Flexible working

Job summary

City of York Council is recruiting four Best Start Inclusion Practitioners to support families with children aged 0-5 who have emerging needs in local neighbourhoods. You will provide flexible, direct support to identify and respond early, strengthening developmental outcomes and inclusion.

The role works with health, education, social care and community services to deliver child-centred planning, timely intervention and practical guidance.

Qualifications

• Experience in supporting families with young children.
• Ability to work collaboratively across health, education and social care.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct, flexible support to children and families.
• Promote inclusion and build confidence in early years settings.
• Contribute to parenting programmes and local community engagement.

Job description

We are excited to be recruiting four Best Start Inclusion Practitioners

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a neighbourhood-based service supporting families with children aged 05 who have emerging additional needs. As a newly established role, Best Start Inclusion Practitioners will provide direct, flexible support to children and their families, helping to identify and respond to emerging needs at the earliest opportunity and strengthen developmental outcomes. The role will work closely with the wider early years workforce to promote inclusion, build confidence, and ensure timely access to appropriate support.

Practitioners will develop trusted relationships with families, providing practical, evidence-informed support that strengthens early assessment, promotes child-centred planning, and enables timely intervention. They will also provide specialist advice and guidance, model effective inclusive practice, and foster strong multi-agency partnerships across health, education, social care and community services.

A key aspect of the role will be supporting practitioners and settings to build their confidence and capability in meeting the needs of children with emerging SEND, while strengthening the local SEND offer and ensuring families receive coordinated support from the earliest presentation of need.

You will also contribute to the delivery of parenting programmes, community engagement activities, and locality-based networks of support, helping to create inclusive communities where children and families can thrive. Through promoting a collaborative, multi-agency approach, you will help ensure children receive seamless, joined-up support during their crucial early years.

The Council is committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.

This post is suitable as a job sharing position.

The Council is committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.

Hybrid working arrangements are available for this role. Each role at CYC is different and your working arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of the role and in collaboration with you and your needs as part of the recruitment process. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team.

City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Claire Kenny (SEND Hub and Integration Manager) at [e-mail]

Closing date: Sunday 4 October 2026 at 12 midnight

Interview date: Week commencing 12 October 2026