An exciting opportunity has become available to join Cheshire East Council as a Best Start for Life Assistant and help give children the best start in life. This rewarding role supports babies, young children, and their families through high-quality play, learning, and early intervention across Family Hubs and community settings. We have 4 full time (37 hours per week) positions working Monday to Friday and the occasional weekend.
About the role
As part of the Early Years, Strong Start & Family service, you will deliver inclusive, engaging sessions that promote children’s development and wellbeing. You will work in partnership with families and professionals to support early childhood development and contribute to the delivery of the Best Start for Life strategy.
Your key responsibilities will be:
- Plan and deliver universal and targeted early years sessions in Family Hubs and outreach settings
- Support crèche provision, ensuring children are safe and engaged
- Assist in delivering evidence-based programmes and intervention
- Observe children’s development and support parents and carers
- Support Portage Practitioners with home visiting programmes
- Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners
- Follow safeguarding procedures at all times
The role is diverse with no one day the same, for more information on the role please view the 'In this job you will' section within the attached job description specification document.
About you
You will need to have:
- NVQ Level 2 in Childcare (or equivalent)
- Experience working with young children and families and delivering groups
- Knowledge of EYFS and child development
- Strong communication skills
- Inclusive and non-judgemental approach
- Understanding of safeguarding
To find out more about the essential and desirable criteria for the role please view the attached job description specification document.
In return we are able to offer:
- Enhanced annual leave - Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service
- Purchase of annual leave – Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro-rata for part-time staff)
- Flexible working pattern - Enjoy a 37-hour standard full-time work week with the added perks of flexi-time and hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible. Your work-life balance just got a whole lot better
- Salary sacrifice green car scheme - Drive green and save green! Lease a brand-new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme. There’s no credit checks, no deposits, just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three-year lease
- White goods salary sacrifice scheme - Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big-ticket purchases like appliances, computers, and tech gadgets directly from your salary
- Enhanced public pension - Secure your future with our career average pension, where contributions are built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
- Cycle to work scheme - Save up to 25-39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment through Income Tax and National Insurance savings. Get fit and save money!
- Employee assistance programme - Access a completely free and confidential assistance service to help manage, reduce, and overcome life’s challenges, both at work and in your personal life
- Discounted gym membership - Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure, including:
- Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities
- Off-Peak Racket Sports
- Athletics Tracks
- Sauna/Steam/Spa
Join us and experience a workplace that truly values and supports you!
Organisation
Cheshire East Council
Location
Congleton, Wilmslow, Macclesfield, Knutsford
Job Category
Children and Young People Services
Salary Min
£25,583 Per Annum
Salary Max
£25,989 Per Annum
Employment Type
Permanent
Cheshire East is an amazing place to live and work. As one of the largest employers in the borough, we are able to offer you a wide range of challenging and rewarding career opportunities.
We are working for a brighter future – together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well-led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities.
If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you.
As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our local communities so that we can all work for a brighter future - together.
Applicants should ensure all sections of the application form are completed as failure to do so will result in their application being rejected. Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
We’re delighted that you’re considering applying for this role!
As an equal opportunities’ employer, we warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better reflect and serve our local communities, and together, we can build something truly special.
To join our team, simply click ‘Apply for this job’ at the bottom of the page. If you’d prefer an informal chat first or have any questions about the role, feel free to reach out to Jenna Holloway or Kerry Watt at: [email protected], they will be happy to hear from you! Please remember to include the job reference so we know which role you are interested in.
If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then it is likely that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion, however, please do not be discouraged from applying again.
For any technical enquiries please email [email protected]
Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.
Cheshire East Council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults across the Borough. As such, any cautions, convictions, reprimands or final warnings that are ‘not protected’ as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 (as amended in 2013) relating to the non-disclosure of spent convictions do not apply to this job. You must therefore, disclose whether you have any previous convictions where prompted to do so within the application process.
