School Navigator

Hampshire County Council; Winchester; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellbeing support

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Hampshire County Council is seeking a School Navigator to join our newly established countywide Early Help team. You will work directly with schools to identify early help needs, promoting positive change and building capacity to support children and families before concerns escalate.

You will collaborate with Education and Social Care colleagues and partner agencies to ensure children's needs stay at the centre of decision-making, empowering families to access the right services.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification (or above) in early years, education, health, child development or related field, or equivalent experience of working with children and young people aged 0-19 in education or early years settings.
• Demonstrable experience working with children and families to improve outcomes in early help, education, early years, or social care. Knowledge of child development and an understanding of the impact of disadvantage on children and families.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively, use initiative, maintain accurate records and demonstrate professional integrity.

Responsibilities

• Directly support schools and education settings to provide early help to children and families at the earliest opportunity.
• Identify gaps and opportunities, helping schools build capacity and capability in identifying early help needs and facilitating support.
• Help schools and families access the right services and resources by connecting them with local support and recommending further intervention where needed.
• Be a locality expert for early help, enabling shared awareness between schools and Family Help teams of vulnerable children and ensuring appropriate support is in place where needed.
• Work collaboratively with education, health, social care, police and community organisations to strengthen and develop early help provision for children and families through schools.
• Identify and escalation safeguarding concerns in line with organisational procedures, while maintaining accurate records and preparing clear, high-quality reports.

Skills

Communication

Relationship-building

Influencing

Negotiation

Collaboration

Initiative

Record keeping

Education

Level 3 qualification or above in early years/education/health/child development or related field

Job description

Joining us in a brand-new role as a School Navigator, you'll play a vital role in helping schools, children, young people and families achieve positive, lasting change across Hampshire. As part of a newly established countywide Early Help team, you'll provide timely support that helps schools build early help capability and capacity, while enabling families to overcome challenges, build resilience and access the right services before concerns escalates.

With a proactive nature and a collaborative, problem-solving approach, you'll work directly with schools to identify solutions, promote positive change and improve outcomes for children. Working closely with Education and Social Care colleagues and partner agencies, you'll ensure children's needs remain at the centre of decision-making while empowering families to build on their strengths and achieve positive outcomes.

What you'll do

• Directly support schools and education settings to provide early help to children and families at the earliest opportunity.
• Identify gaps and opportunities, helping schools build capacity and capability in identifying early help needs and facilitating support.
• Help schools and families access the right services and resources by connecting them with local support and recommending further intervention where needed.
• Be a locality expert for early help, enabling shared awareness between schools and Family Help teams of vulnerable children and ensuring appropriate support is in place where needed.
• Work collaboratively with education, health, social care, police and community organisations to strengthen and develop early help provision for children and families through schools.
• Identify and escalation safeguarding concerns in line with organisational procedures, while maintaining accurate records and preparing clear, high-quality reports.

What we're looking for

• Level 3 qualification (or above) in early years, education, health, child development or a related field, or equivalent experience of working with children and young people aged 0-19 in education or early years settings.
• Demonstrable experience working with children and their families to improve outcomes in early help, education, early years, or social care. Knowledge of child development and an understanding of the impact of disadvantage on children and families.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively, use initiative, maintain accurate records and demonstrate professional integrity.

Why join us?

• Be part of a newly created countywide team helping to shape and strengthen Hampshire's Early Help offer.
• Enjoy a varied and rewarding role where you'll engage with a range of stakeholders to make a meaningful difference to schools, children and families through timely intervention and partnership working.
• Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice. Competitive benefits package, including generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

We have multiple vacancies available across Hampshire, based in the following localities: Basingstoke, Test Valley (Andover), East Hampshire (Alton), New Forest (Totton), Hart & Rushmoor (Aldershot and Farnborough), Eastleigh & Winchester, Fareham & Gosport, and Havant.

To learn more about this role, please review our Candidate Pack available on our website.

Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK.

Other job titles you may be searching for include: Family Support Practitioner, Early Help Practitioner, Early Intervention Practitioner, Family Intervention Practitioner, School Family Support Worker, Family Liaison Worker.