Job Description

Grade 5- 35520- 38739pa Early Years Practitioner Starting Well - Early Help and Targeted Family Support

Are you passionate about working with children and families and supporting them to live happy, healthy lives? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment, ensuring services meet the needs of the local area and our young residents? We're looking for a dedicated and skilled Early Years Practitioner to join our Early Help and Targeted Family Support Service.


This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality intervention within Children's Services, ensuring the right support reaches the right child at the right time. If you're ready to take the next step in your career and work in a team that makes a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.


As part of our Starting Well service, you will work to deliver effective high-quality services following the Best Start for Life Offer, underpinned by the Early Years Foundation Stages framework. This will include the delivery of universal and targeted services which are designed to improve outcomes for young children and their families, by reducing inequalities particularly for those families in greatest need.


Key Responsibilities


Deliver universal and targeted support for families, including parenting programmes and tailored interventions to promote resilience and positive outcomes for children. Plan, deliver, and evaluate engaging early years activities aligned with the EYFS framework to support school readiness. Work in partnership with parents, carers, and multi-agency professionals to improve outcomes for families, including vulnerable and isolated groups. Coordinate Early Help assessments and develop targeted plans to ensure timely support. Promote community engagement and government initiatives such as Best Start for Life, Book Start, and Healthy Start. Maintain accurate records, monitor and evaluate interventions, and contribute to service improvement through data analysis. Lead on specialist areas (e.g., infant feeding, perinatal support, speech and language, school readiness). Ensure safeguarding compliance and escalate concerns appropriately. Manage resources and support outreach activities, ensuring high standards of delivery. Participate in a rota covering early mornings, evenings, and weekends, with travel across the borough and nationally.

About You

You will be an organised, proactive, and confident professional who thrives in a fast-paced Early Years environment. With a strong understanding of Early Years development and local Children's Services you bring both precision and empathy to your work.

Qualifications:

Level 2 and Level 3 recognised childcare qualifications. Strong knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and current Ofsted statutory guidance. Minimum of 2 years' experience working with young children and families in a community setting. Paediatric First Aid and Basic Food Hygiene qualifications (or willingness to train).

Experience

Proven ability to design and deliver effective services for young children and families within public or voluntary sectors. Hands-on experience supporting families with practical parenting strategies. Strong track record of working collaboratively across sectors and in multi-agency partnerships. Knowledge and training in safeguarding practices.

Skills & Personal Attributes

Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, families, and multi-agency partners from diverse backgrounds. Knowledge of co-production and community engagement. Experience delivering direct support to families and implementing safeguarding plans. Awareness of policy changes affecting families and early years provision. Strong monitoring and evaluation skills to evidence service impact. Excellent written, verbal, and listening communication skills. Highly organised with strong time management and ability to prioritise under pressure. Commitment to confidentiality and professional standards.
Apply Now: If you are passionate about Early Years development and improving outcomes for children, we would love to hear from you.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 29/12/25

however interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early.


You will be notified if your application has been successful. Interview date to be confirmed.


Should you require any help or advice with your online application, please contact the Recruitment Helpdesk on 01708 432770

Additional Information

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering .


The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

*About Us

With its excellent transport links into central London, extensive town centre regeneration and the highest concentration of green space anywhere in London, Havering has a unique offer as a place to live, work and visit. By making the most of its position and opportunities, Havering is becoming a hub for start-ups and expanding businesses, as well as construction, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries.
Find out why you should work for Havering Council .