Best Start Inclusion Practitioner - 37 hours

Torbay Council; Torquay; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Torbay Council is seeking a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner to work with families of children aged 0-5, providing early help and inclusive practice across Family Hubs.

You will identify developmental needs, support parents, and collaborate with partner services to ensure timely, accessible support.

Qualifications

• Strong communication with parents, carers and professionals.
• Ability to work on own initiative and in a team.
• Organise and prioritise work with minimal supervision.
• Use professional judgement and collaborate in various situations.
• Observe children's development and identify emerging concerns.

Responsibilities

• Providing flexible, practical support to families where there are emerging concerns about development, inclusion or additional needs.
• Helping parents and carers understand their child’s developmental needs and access timely, appropriate support.
• Promoting inclusive practice across the Best Start Family Hub network and wider early years system.
• Working closely with education, health, SEND and community partners to strengthen coordinated support for children aged 0–5.
• Contributing to local tools, resources and pathways so information and advice is clear, accessible and useful for families.
• Supporting smoother transitions into early education and school by focusing on early identification, confidence building and joined-up planning.

Skills

Communication

Independent worker

Organisational skills

Professional judgement

Observation of development

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Early Years

Job description

Best Start Inclusion Practitioner - 37 hours

Application Deadline: 30 August 2026

Department: Childrens Services

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Torbay Council

Reporting To: Team Manager

Compensation: £28,598 - £31,022 / year

Description

Job Description & Person Specification

Are you passionate about helping young children thrive, supporting families at the earliest opportunity and making inclusion a reality in everyday practice? This is an exciting opportunity to join Torbay’s Best Start in Life and Family Hubs as a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner, working with families, practitioners and partners to help children aged 0–5 get the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

In this practical, family-facing role, you will help identify emerging developmental needs early and support parents and carers to understand and respond to their child’s development with confidence. You will work across Family Hubs and the wider community, helping families access clear advice, inclusive opportunities and joined-up support without waiting for a formal diagnosis before help can begin.

You will be part of a collaborative network across early years, education, health, SEND and the voluntary and community sector. By sharing knowledge, modelling inclusive practice and strengthening local pathways, you will play a key role in improving outcomes for children and helping practitioners feel confident in responding to a wide range of needs.

What you’ll be doing

• Providing flexible, practical support to families where there are emerging concerns about development, inclusion or additional needs.
• Helping parents and carers understand their child’s developmental needs and access timely, appropriate support.
• Promoting inclusive practice across the Best Start Family Hub network and wider early years system.
• Working closely with education, health, SEND and community partners to strengthen coordinated support for children aged 0–5.
• Contributing to local tools, resources and pathways so information and advice is clear, accessible and useful for families.
• Supporting smoother transitions into early education and school by focusing on early identification, confidence building and joined-up planning.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for someone who brings warmth, curiosity and confidence to their work with children, families and professionals. You will have a strong understanding of child development from birth to age 5, experience of supporting children with emerging additional needs or SEND, and the ability to communicate sensitively with parents, carers and partners. You will be organised, collaborative and committed to inclusion, equality and improving outcomes for children and families.

This role would suit someone with experience in early years, family support, education, health, childcare or community settings who wants to make a visible difference at the earliest point in a child’s life. An NVQ Level 3, or equivalent, in Early Years and Childcare or a related field is required.

Why join us?

This is a rewarding opportunity to be part of a service committed to giving children the best start in life. You will join a supportive, partnership-focused environment where your work will help families feel heard, practitioners feel confident and children access support earlier. If you are motivated by early help, inclusion and the chance to make a lasting difference for children in Torbay, we would love to hear from you.

This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.

Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 7th September 2026.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.

Skills

Essential:

• Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with parents, carers and professionals.
• Ability to work on own initiative and also as part of a team.
• Ability to organise and prioritise work with minimum supervision.
• Ability to use professional judgement and work collaboratively in a range of situations.
• Ability to observe children’s development and identify emerging concerns.

This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Knowledge

Essential:

• Strong knowledge of child development from birth to age 5, in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance.
• Understanding of SEND in the early years, including early identification and inclusive practice.
• Knowledge of local SEND systems, pathways and services.
• Understanding of the role of Best Start Family Hubs in supporting children and families.
• A sound working knowledge of safeguarding practice and the local offer.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential:

• Experience of working with families providing child development support in the early years, either in a Family Hub, health service, early help team, childcare setting, school or community group.
• Experience of modelling or promoting inclusive practice in an early years, family support, education or health context.
• Experience of supporting children with emerging additional needs and/or SEND.
• Experience of multi‑agency working.
• NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in Early Years and Childcare or related field.

If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/best-start-inclusion-practitioner/