Best Start Inclusion Practitioners

Devon County Council; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Generous annual leave

Extensive learning and development

Supervision and supportive management

Job summary

Devon County Council is recruiting Best Start Inclusion Practitioners to support children aged 0-5 and their families, delivering early, non-diagnostic help within the Best Start Family Hubs. The role involves face-to-face work in Family Hubs, community settings and homes, building trusted relationships and driving early intervention across health, education and early help services.

You will identify emerging needs, provide short-term coaching and practical interventions, and support families to

Qualifications

• Experience working with young children and families.
• Knowledge of child development and inclusive practice.
• Experience of multi-agency working across health, education or early help services.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to use professional judgement and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Identify and respond to emerging developmental and inclusion needs.
• Provide short-time support, coaching and practical interventions for children and families.
• Deliver inclusive groups and activities.
• Support families to understand local SEND and early help pathways.
• Promote inclusive practice across Family Hubs and early years settings.
• Contribute to better outcomes for children and reduced inequalities across Devon.

Skills

Child development

Multi-agency working

Communication skills

Independent working

Family-centred practice

Education

Level 3 qualification

Job description

Fixed term until 31st March 2029

Help shape a child's future before challenges become barriers.

Devon County Council is looking for passionate, skilled practitioners to join our new Best Start Family Hubs team as Best Start Inclusion Practitioners (BSIPs).

This exciting role sits at the heart of our ambition to ensure our SEND children receive the right support at the right time, helping them thrive, learn and achieve their full potential.

As a BSIP, you will work directly with children aged 0-5 and their families, providing early, non-diagnostic support for SEND children with emerging developmental or additional needs. You will help identify concerns early, deliver practical interventions, support school readiness, and empower families to access the right services before difficulties escalated.

This is a highly rewarding, community-based role. Around 75% of your time will be spent working face-to-face with families in Family Hubs, community settings and homes, building trusted relationships and making a genuine difference to children's lives.

Working alongside health, childrens service, education, SEND, early help and voluntary sector partners, you will:

• Identify and respond to emerging developmental and inclusion needs.
• Provide short-time support, coaching and practical interventions for children and families.
• Deliver inclusive groups and activities.
• Support families to understand local SEND and early help pathways.
• Promote inclusive practice across Family Hubs and early years settings.
• Contribute to better outcomes for children and reduced inequalities across Devon.

We're seeking people who are passionate about inclusion, early intervention and improving outcomes for children.

You will bring:

• Experience working with young children and families.
• Knowledge of child development, SEND and inclusive practice.
• Experience of multi-agency working across health, education or early help services.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to use professional judgement and work independently.
• A commitment to family-centred, strengths-based practice.
• A Level 3 qualification in a relevant field is essential, with higher-level qualifications and SEND experience welcomed.

This is a unique opportunity to help build and shape a new service that will transform support for children and families across Devon. You'll benefit from high-quality supervision, ongoing professional development and the chance to be part of an innovative team committed to inclusion, partnership and positive outcomes.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to families every day while helping shape the future of Family Hubs across Devon. You'll join a passionate team committed to:

• Putting children and families at the heart of everything we do.
• Delivering innovative, community-based support.
• Listening to family voices and lived experience.
• Working together to achieve better outcomes.
• Building stronger families, stronger communities and brighter futures.

What We Offer

Alongside a rewarding career and the opportunity to make a real difference, we offer:

• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Extensive learning and development opportunities.
• Supportive management and professional supervision.
• The opportunity to help shape the future of Family Hubs in Devon.

We are able to offer posts as secondments opportunities to internal Devon County Council employee's if requested and approved. If you require further information or guidance on the Devon County Council Secondment policy this can be found here: Staff transfers (TUPE), joint working arrangements and secondments - Inside Devon - tasks and guides . Alternatively please speak to your line-manager as required.

We have opportunities across our 3 localities (South and West, North and Mid, Exeter and East).

For an informal conversation about these opportunities or to find out more about the role, please contact please; Kate Freeman, [e-mail], Cat Hewitt, [e-mail] or Sam King, [e-mail] .

Together, we're building stronger families, stronger communities and brighter futures across Devon. So, join us in shaping Devon's Best Start Family Hubs, helping every child get the best start in life and every family access the right support at the right time.

• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on ourEquality and Diversity webpages .
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working -The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Interview Date: Week beginning 21st September 2026