Children with Disabilities Senior Practitioner

We have an exciting vacancy for a Children with Disabilities Senior Practitioner in the Children with Disabilities Support Services that provides short break sessions in Early Support Learning provision for children age 0-5 years and Targeted Positive Activities for children and young people 0-18 years.

Sessions and groups are high quality targeted early educational learning and targeted sessions and groups for Lincolnshire children with a disability or complex health need for the Children with disabilities commissioned projects across Lincolnshire.

Do you have the passion and commitment to make a difference to a family’s life?

This is an exciting opportunity to join an experienced and dedicated team working across Lincolnshire providing the Children with Disabilities Service.

This role will take a lead in the Early Support Learning Provision for children age 0-5 years and provide leadership and management for a small group of practitioners.

The successful candidate will support the Targeted Positive Activities service for children age 5 to 18 years.

This role provides a short break for parents and carers with children and young people in Lincolnshire children centres, local schools and community venues. The services support all children and young people with a disability or complex health need, working together for all children, young people and families to be happy, healthy, safe and the best they can be.

To achieve this aim, the post holder will: provide children aged 0-18years with disabilities and their families high quality targeted early educational learning and targeted support that promotes self-confidence and independence working as part of an integrated team.

The Early Years Alliance will provide you with exciting training and the opportunity to learn new skills and experiences to support your professional development.

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

• To facilitate high-quality sessions for children with disabilities or complex health need in their early years up until they transition into full time education (Reception Year) while providing parents and caregivers a suitable break from their caring responsibilities.
•  Plan and facilitate sessions that align to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum, with a focus on closing the attainment gap between CWD and their peers while ensuring children’s personal care, and where appropriate health needs are met.
• Plan and facilitate these groups and sessions providing a range of appropriate and suitable activities in a safe and welcoming environment, led by the preference and capability of the attending comparable with their peers that promote self confidence and independence whilst remaining suitable and safe for their abilities.
• Plan, assess and track and monitor children and young people’s progress, particularly in relation to relevant outcomes within their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), where applicable, and self confidence and independence using various tools such as Tapestry and Outcome Wheels.
• Support parents and caregivers to access advice and support from the Local Offer and promote peer group participation, learning and engagement encouraging mutual support networks to children, young people and their families.

Essential criteria

• NVQ Level 3 in Early Years/Childcare, NVQ 3 Youth/Play work or equivalent and/or have relevant experience of working with children with disabilities or complex needs in their early years or 5-18 years.
•  Understanding and knowledge of meeting the individual needs of disabled or complex health needs children and young people.
• Proven effective communication skills – able to communicate effectively in person and in writing, with professionals, staff, early help and social care teams and other professional and organisations.
• Experience of working as a integrated team with other professionals such as social care, early help teams, educational providers, local voluntary organisations and other partners.

This post is not exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them. The level of this check is enhanced.

All successful applicants will be required to register and subscribe with the DBS Update Service (if you have not already done so) and undertake a new enhanced disclosure and barring check (even if you have an existing DBS Certificate).