Best Start Inclusion Practitioner

Salary details: £ - £

We are looking for passionate, proactive individuals to join our Portage Service as Best Start Inclusion Practitioners (BSIPs) 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.

Working across Family Hubs, community settings and with partners, 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, helping build confidence, prevent challenges from escalating, and improve long-term outcomes.

If you're committed to early intervention and 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 Practitioner, you will be a welcoming and trusted presence in Best Start Family Hubs and across the community network, making it easier for families to access the right support at the right time.  You will be providing support in the following ways:

Early Identification: identifying developmental or emerging needs early through observations and family engagement.

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

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

Direct Support: Offering drop-ins, 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 and families, alongside a genuine passion for making a difference through early intervention and inclusion.

We're looking for someone who:
• Can identify emerging needs and recognise when additional support may be required.
• Builds trusting relationships and communicate with families in a supportive, approachable way.
• Takes a practical, empathetic approach and is confident providing hands-on support.
• Works effectively across community settings and in partnership with other professionals.
• Is committed to inclusion and improving outcomes for children and families.

You'll also have:
• Knowledge and experience of SEND and inclusion, of child development and an understanding of the identification of additional needs.
• Experience supporting families in community, early years or similar settings.
• A relevant Level 3 qualification.

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

Provisional interview date - 07 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

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Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

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.