Barnardo's Isle of Wight Family Hubs are delighted to be recruiting a Best Start SEND Practitioner (Project Worker 1) to join our dedicated Best Start Family Hubs Team.
This exciting and nationally recognised new role sits at the heart of the Government's Family Hubs vision, offering a unique opportunity to help shape and strengthen the SEND family hub offer across the Isle of Wight. If you are passionate about inclusion, early intervention, and making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and families, we would love to hear from you.
About the Role
The Best Start SEND Practitioner plays a vital role in ensuring children with developmental needs, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), or additional needs receive the right support at the earliest opportunity.
Early identification and intervention can have a significant impact on children's development, wellbeing and long-term outcomes. In this role, you will provide flexible, responsive and family-centred support, helping children thrive and empowering families to access the services they need an advocate for their child's SEND needs.
Working through Family Hubs and in close partnership with education, health and SEND professionals and SENDIAS, you will:
- Deliver specialist evidence-based parenting interventions to parents and carers across the Isle of Wight
- Facilitate group activities such as workshops and drop-in sessions.
- Support families to understand their child's development and navigate available services with confidence.
- Work collaboratively with SENDIAS, health visitors, speech and language therapists, early years providers, schools, SEND services and other key partners.
- Promote early identification and intervention for children with developmental, SEND or additional needs.
- Champion inclusive practice across Family Hubs and contribute to developing the confidence, knowledge and skills of the wider workforce.
About You
We are looking for a motivated and compassionate practitioner who is committed to improving outcomes for children and families.
You will have:
- Experience working with children who have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities and their families.
- A strong understanding of child development, including language, communication and social-emotional development.
- Excellent partnership working skills and experience of working effectively within multi-agency environments.
- A commitment to empowering families and ensuring they receive support as early as possible.
- A minimum NVQ Level 3 qualificationin a relevant discpline such as Education, Children's Health, Children's Social Care or a related discipline.
Why Join Barnardo's?
This is an exciting opportunity to take on a pioneering role that will help shape services for children and families across the Isle of Wight. You will be part of a supportive team dedicated to promoting inclusion, reducing inequalities and delivering positive, lasting outcomes for children and young people.
Join us and help ensure every child has the best possible start in life.
Please note that this role will be based in Sandown Family hub as the designated office space. Candidates must be able to demonstrate ability to travel across the IOW locality to deliver services in the community.
The role is 30 hours a week all year round working a 4-day week. If after reading the additional information you have any queries please email children's service manager laura.groves@barnardos.org.uk
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Workplace Offer: What it means for you
- The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
- Service related sick pay from day 1
- Cycle2work scheme
- Interest free season ticket loans
- 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
- Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
- Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
- Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
*T&C's apply based on contract
- Reference number:23568
- Job Title:Best Start SEND Practitioner
- Location:Sandown
- Locality:Isle of Wight
- Contract type:Permanent
- Hours:30
- Salary:£26,003.00 - £28,971.00 FTE
- Closing Date:31 August 2026
- Interview Date:week beginning 7th September