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Job Description

Job Title: Best Start Inclusion Practitioner (3 posts)
Salary: £29,253 - £32,736per annum
Grade: C
Contract Type: Fixed Term for 12 months with the potential to extend
Working Hours: 37 hours per week

About the Role

The Best Start Inclusion Practitioner (BSIP) provides early help and inclusion-focused support to children, families, early years settings and schools, enabling needs to be identified and addressed at the earliest opportunity. The role is central to preventing escalation into statutory services where this is appropriate, through high-quality relationship-based practice and robust use of graduated response approaches.

The role supports delivery of Thurrock’s Best Start in Life, SEND Inclusion and early intervention priorities and operates within a multi-agency system spanning education, health and community partners.

This role offers the chance to make a real difference by working directly with families and education settings to strengthen inclusive practice, build confidence and capability within universal and targeted services, and contribute to improved outcomes for children.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Ability to build positive and trusting relationships with families and professionals.
• Experience of working with children and families in education, early years, SEND or family support contexts.
• Commitment to inclusive, child-centred and family-centred practice
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to explain information clearly and sensitively

Essential qualifications: Relevant Level 3 qualification (e.g. Early Years, Education, Health, SEND or equivalent)

DBS Check: Enhanced with Children's Barred List is required for this post

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 2nd July 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 19th July 2026

Interview Date: 31st July 2026

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Alison Picknell on email at apicknell@thurrock.gov.uk

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

Application Requirements

As part of the Safer Recruitment process, Gap Management is required for all Safeguarding roles. Please complete the Gaps in Employment grid provided (refer to the example document for guidance) and upload it under Miscellaneous Documents as part of your application.

If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.

Gaps in Employment Form

Gaps in Employment Example

About us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council