Best Start in Life Local Plan Co-ordinator (2 Posts)

Salary details: £ - £

We are looking for two experienced, confident and collaborative Best Start in Life Local Plan Coordinators to help lead the development and delivery of Best Start Family Hubs across Derbyshire. Both positions are 0.5FTE, one will be supporting the North of the county and one will support the South of the county.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in improving outcomes for babies, young children and families by helping to bring together early years, health, education, childcare, family support and wider partner services.

Working within Children’s Services, you will coordinate activity across a designated area of the county, supporting Family Hub networks to deliver accessible, high-quality support for children and families.

What will I be doing:

• Lead and coordinate Best Start Family Hub network activity across the north or south of the county.
• Support the implementation, review and reporting of the Derbyshire Best Start in Life Local Plan.
• Work with schools, early years settings, Family Hubs, partner agencies and providers to promote high-quality, joined-up support.
• Provide advice, guidance and practical support on Best Start in Life priorities, including home learning, parenting support, inclusion and early identification of need.
• Develop networks, share best practice, deliver training and support continuous improvement across hub and network sites.
• Prepare reports on progress, impact and effectiveness, using information and evidence to inform service development.

About You

You will bring recent and sound experience of working within the Early Years field, alongside strong leadership, communication and partnership-working skills. You will be confident working across services and agencies, building effective relationships with professionals, providers, parents and carers, and supporting others to deliver excellent outcomes for children and families.

You should have a teaching degree or equivalent qualification with a specialism in Early Years at Level 6. A higher degree, research experience, budget management experience, and experience of delivering home learning environment or parenting programmes would be advantageous.

Why join us?

This role offers the chance to help shape a significant programme of work focused on giving every child the best start in life. You will be part of a committed Early Years Service, working with partners across Derbyshire to strengthen support for families, improve access to services and contribute to better long-term outcomes for children.

We highly recommend that before applying you contact Vicky McEwan for an informal conversation about the role:  

Vicky McEwan, Early Years Manager Victoria.mcewan@derbyshire.gov.uk 

Provisional Interview Date: 30 September 2026

Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

CS1

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values — being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.