We are seeking two full-time Community Link Workers to join the Early Years Alliance team in Luton. Working within the Flying Start/Family Hub team, you will deliver family-focused services aimed at improving outcomes for children under five years. Responsibilities include outreach to schools, early years settings, and community venues, as well as facilitating evidence-based parenting programmes and Flying Start sessions.

You will promote key Best Start in Life and public health messages, support positive parenting, and collaborate with community, voluntary, and statutory partners to enhance access to services including opportunities for co-facilitation of parenting programmes. Strong IT skills and flexibility to work across multiple Luton sites are essential. Experience supporting families with children showing early developmental delays is highly desirable.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part time employees
• Additional annual leave for long service
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Employer and employee contribution pension scheme
• Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being
• Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities
• A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
• Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
• Savings of up to 25% on O2 Refresh Airtime Plan on any new phone or tablets
• A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well being

Main duties of the role

• Facilitate evidence-based parenting programmes including (but not limited to) the parenting puzzle and Henry healthy families and parenting workshops; both within the community and in partner venues across Luton as well as virtual delivery.
•  Facilitate universal and targeted group sessions as directed working as part of the Flying Start delivery team, including recording and inputting information on IT systems/databases.
• To offer a whole family / family centred approach to families, with emerging needs, to build confidence, motivation and resilience, using person-centred and strength’s-based approaches.
• Use robust evaluation tools to capture the journey for the families through agreed objectives including case studies. Contribute to Flying Start Key Performance Indicators for funders.
• Deliver key public health messages to families with a focus on supporting healthy lifestyles, oral health, social and emotional development, communication and language development, child safety and children with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Support families with the transition into parenthood and understanding of the services on offer as part of the Best Start in Life offer through the Luton Family Hubs.

Essential criteria 

• Level 3 qualification in Early Years or Health & Social Care, or extensive experience of working with families providing early intervention services and an understanding of why the early years is important for future life chances.
• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent.
• A commitment and interest in supporting families and increasing opportunities to help reduce health inequalities.
• Recent experience in facilitating groups such as parenting programmes or workshops.
• Good understanding of baby and child development and how children and adults learn.
• Good IT skills including use of Microsoft 365 including Word, internet and email alongside experience of recording on IT systems.