Best Start Inclusion Assistant (2 Posts)

Salary details: £ - £

We are looking for passionate, proactive individuals to join our Portage Service as Best Start Inclusion Assistants (BSIAs) working alongside our Best Start Inclusion Practitioners within our newly developed Best Start Family Hubs.

With opportunities available across our Family Hub network in Derbyshire, you'll be based within a local community, building trusted relationships and providing early, accessible support where it can have the greatest impact.  You'll support families with children aged 0–5 who may have emerging or identified needs and support the connection for families with the right support at the right time.

If you're committed to supporting inclusion and want to make a real difference in the lives of young children and families, this is an exciting opportunity to join our Best Start Family Hub Team and help shape its future.

The Opportunity
As a Best Start Inclusion Assistant, you will be a welcoming and trusted presence in Best Start Family Hubs and across the community network, you will play a key role in creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment for families and partners.  Working as part of a friendly team, you will provide information and practical assistance across Family Hubs, community settings and with partners.  

You will be providing support in the following ways:

Family Navigation: Helping families understand and navigate local services including inclusion pathways, financial support, community resources and access to childcare entitlements.

Joined-Up Working: Collaborating with health services, early years providers, and local SEND teams and community partners to provide joined up support.

Direct Support: Supporting the running of ‘drop-ins’ and short-term early support workshops, and family sessions at Family Hubs and across the Best Start community network

About You
To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally have…

Experience of working with young children, including those with special educational Needs and their families.

We're looking for someone who:

• Builds trusting relationships and communicates with families in a supportive, approachable way
• Recognises and responds to a child’s Special Educational Needs, taking a practical, empathetic approach, supporting parents / carers as first educators of their child.
• Works effectively with colleagues across the community network and in partnership with other professionals.
• Is committed to inclusion and improving outcomes for children and families

You'll also have:

• Understanding of child development from birth to five and knowledge of SEND and inclusion.
• Experience of supporting families in community, early years or similar settings.
• Effective communication skills both written and verbal with the ability to explain pathways, processes and support clearly and accessibly.
• A relevant Level 2 qualification

Above all, you'll be approachable, compassionate and committed to helping children and families thrive through high-quality early support.

For any further information please contact Samantha Cardwell, email Samantha.Cardwell@derbyshire.gov.uk or telephone 01629 535507

Provisional Interview date: 22nd October 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.