Learning & Disabilities Practitioner

Early Years Alliance; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Children with Disabilities Practitioner to join their team. This role focuses on providing essential support and learning opportunities for children with disabilities aged 0-18 years. You will work collaboratively with families and professionals to ensure high-quality care and educational experiences. The position offers a chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and their families while benefiting from comprehensive training and development opportunities. Join a passionate team committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in a supportive environment.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays

Enhanced sickness pay

Employer and employee contribution pension scheme

Birthday leave

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Regular learning and development opportunities

Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme

Mileage reimbursement at 35p per mile

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Early Years/Childcare or equivalent is essential.
• Experience working with children with disabilities is required.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate high-quality sessions for children with disabilities.
• Plan activities that promote self-confidence and independence.

Skills

Effective communication skills

Understanding of individual needs of disabled children

Teamwork with professionals

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Early Years/Childcare

Relevant experience with children with disabilities

Tools

Tapestry

Outcome Wheels

Job description

About The Role

Do you have the passion and commitment to make a difference to a child with a disability and their family’s life?

We are currently recruiting for a Children with Disabilities Practitioner providing short breaks and learning opportunities to children with a disability or complex health needs age 0-18 years for the Children with disabilities commissioned projects across Lincolnshire.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an experienced and dedicated team of Practitioners working across Lincolnshire providing the Children with Disabilities Support Service project.

This role provides a short break for parents and carers with children and young people aged 0 to 18 years in Lincolnshire children centres, local schools and community venues. This role will support all children and young people with a disability or complex health needs, working together for all children, young people and families to be happy, healthy, safe and the best they can be.

To achieve this aim, the post holder will provide children aged 0-18 years with disabilities and their families high quality targeted early educational learning, targeted support that promotes self-confidence, and independence working as part of an integrated team.

The Early Years Alliance will provide you with exciting training and the opportunity to learn new skills and experiences to support your professional development.

Benefits

• A comprehensive induction and training support package will be provided to the successful candidate.
• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part time employees
• Additional annual leave for long service
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Employer and employee contribution pension scheme
• Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well-being
• Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities
• A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
• Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
• Savings of up to 25% on O2 Refresh Airtime Plan on any new phone or tablets
• A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well-being
• Mileage at 35p per mile from an agreed base

Main duties of the role

• To facilitate high-quality sessions for children with disabilities or complex health needs in their early years up until they transition into full-time education (Reception Year) while providing parents and caregivers a suitable break from their caring responsibilities.
• Plan and facilitate sessions that align to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum, with a focus on closing the attainment gap between CWD and their peers while ensuring children’s personal care, and where appropriate health needs are met.
• To facilitate high-quality community, youth groups and holiday sessions for children with disabilities or complex health needs from 5 to 18 years in local community venues while providing parents and caregivers a suitable break from their caring responsibilities.
• Plan and facilitate these groups and sessions providing a range of appropriate and suitable activities in a safe and welcoming environment, led by the preference and capability of the attending comparable with their peers that promote self-confidence and independence whilst remaining suitable and safe for their abilities.
• Plan, assess and track and monitor children and young people’s progress, particularly in relation to relevant outcomes within their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), where applicable, and self-confidence and independence using various tools such as Tapestry and Outcome Wheels.
• Support parents and caregivers to access advice and support from the Local Offer and promote peer group participation, learning and engagement encouraging mutual support networks to children, young people and their families.

Essential criteria

• NVQ Level 3 in Early Years/Childcare, NVQ 3 Youth/Play work or equivalent and/or have relevant experience of working with children with disabilities or complex needs in their early years or 5-18 years.
• Understanding and knowledge of meeting the individual needs of disabled or complex health needs children and young people.
• Proven effective communication skills – able to communicate effectively in person and in writing, with professionals, staff, early help and social care teams and other professional and organisations.
• Experience of working as an integrated team with other professionals such as social care, early help teams, educational providers, local voluntary organisations and other partners.

This post is fixed term until March 2027

Hours per week: 25

Weeks Per Year: 52

Virtual interview date: TBC

Please note our virtual interviews take place via Microsoft Teams, you may need to download this prior to your interview.

All successful applicants will be required to register and subscribe with the DBS Update Service (if you have not already done so) and undertake a new enhanced disclosure and barring check (even if you have an existing DBS Certificate).

About The Service

The Alliance is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation.

The charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and equal opportunities in employment.