Best Start Inclusion Practitioner (BSIP)

Oxfordshire County Council; Oxford; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxfordshire County Council's Best Start in Life programme seeks a practical Inclusion Practitioner to work in Family Hubs across the county, observing and supporting children from birth to five and their families. You will engage with health, education, SEND, and community teams to identify needs early and provide compassionate, practical guidance.

You will help families access services, navigate pathways, and access early years education or relevant financial support while maintaining

Qualifications

• You understand the importance of early years development.
• Experience working with birth to five and families.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly with diverse professionals.

Responsibilities

• Observe and assess each child's needs with families in hubs and community settings.
• Help families navigate services and access early years education and support.
• Collaborate with health, SEND, education, and partner organisations.
• Maintain accurate records in line with safeguarding and data protection.
• Coach and support colleagues to develop inclusive practices.

Skills

Communication

Relationship-building

Observation & assessment

Inclusive practice

Education

Level 3 or higher qualification in early years, education, health, SEND, child development or related field

Job description

About Us

A child's earliest years can shape their whole future. Through our Best Start in Life Family Hubs and the wider Experts at Hand programme, Oxfordshire County Council are bringing services together around children and families, making it easier for them to access practical, joined-up support at an earlier stage. As a Best Start Inclusion Practitioner, you will be part of this new way of working. Based within our Family Hubs and working across Best Start networks, you will help ensure that children from birth to five with emerging or additional needs are identified early, and supported effectively. You will work alongside families and professionals across health, early years, education, SEND and community services, helping to create inclusive environments in which every child is valued and has the opportunity to thrive.

About the Role

This is a practical, people-focused role where you will spend time with young children and their families in Family Hubs, homes and community settings. You will observe and listen carefully, helping families and practitioners understand each child's strengths, development and individual needs. Your work will help identify where a child may benefit from additional support and ensure that families are connected with the right advice and services as early as possible.

Families will be at the heart of your work. You will help parents and carers understand what support is available, navigate local inclusion pathways and access early years education or relevant financial support. You will recognise that seeking help can sometimes feel overwhelming, so you will offer clear, compassionate and practical guidance that helps families feel listened to, informed and empowered.

Collaboration will be central to the role. You will work closely with colleagues from Early Years SEND, Early Years Quality Improvement, health, Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology and Family Help, alongside voluntary, community and faith organisations and local peer networks. By sharing relevant developmental information and supporting appropriate referrals, you will help create genuinely joined-up support around children and their families.

Your expertise will also help others grow. You will coach, model and offer guidance to Family Hub colleagues and partner practitioners, building their confidence in child development, early identification and inclusive practice. You will encourage services to understand, value and respond to children's views, including children who are very young, non-verbal or have limited expressive language.

Alongside your direct work, you will keep accurate and confidential records, monitor the difference made by interventions and share outcomes appropriately. Safeguarding and data protection will be fundamental to your practice, and you will respond to concerns in line with local procedures.

The role involves travelling across Oxfordshire to work with families, attend meetings and collaborate with partner services. Some flexibility may be required to meet the needs of families and the service. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, including a check of the Children's Barred List, will be required.

About you

• You understand just how important the first five years of a child's life are, and you are passionate about helping children and families receive support before difficulties become more established.
• You see the whole child, recognising their strengths and potential as well as the areas in which they may need some additional help.
• You will hold a Level 3 or higher qualification in early years, education, health, SEND, child development or a related field.
• You will bring substantial experience of working with children aged from birth to five and their families
• You will have a sound understanding of child development and the factors that help young children grow, learn and achieve their potential.
• You will also recognise how inequality, disadvantage, social deprivation and experiences of abuse can affect children and families, approaching sensitive situations with compassion, professional curiosity and respect.
• Building relationships will come naturally to you.
• You will be able to communicate clearly with families, colleagues and professionals from different backgrounds, adapting your approach to suit the situation.
• You will be confident working across organisational boundaries and helping families make sense of different services, pathways and sources of support.
• You will also be comfortable sharing your knowledge with others.
• Whether you are coaching a Family Hub colleague, modelling an inclusive approach or offering professional guidance to a partner practitioner, you will do so in an encouraging and constructive way that builds confidence and capability.
• You will be organised, reflective and able to assess and analyse information carefully.
• You will understand your safeguarding and child protection responsibilities, maintain accurate records and use digital systems confidently.
• Most importantly, you will work inclusively and without judgement, acting with integrity and ensuring that children and families are treated with dignity, kindness and respect.

If you have specialist training in SEND, inclusion, autism, speech and language or early years special educational needs, this would be welcomed. Experience within a Family Hub, Children and Family Centre, early years service or SEND team would also be valuable, as would experience of adapting or delivering evidence-based parenting or home-learning programmes for families with additional needs.

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to: Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are 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 these commitments.

Our commitment to: Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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