Home Learning Link Worker

We are recruiting a term time, 30 hour, Home Learning Link Worker to join the Flying Start team in Luton.

The post holder will work as part of the Flying Start team, providing evidence-based interventions, directly to families who will benefit from support to improve their child’s communication and language development and improve their home learning environment.

This role forms part of the wider Family Hub programme offer and is aimed particularly at children aged 3 and 4 years old. The role will involve delivery of parenting support in both the family home, family hub and outreach sites, working closely with childcare providers and health professionals, for identification of children.

This exciting new post will require an individual who has demonstrable experience of working with families to support their confidence and knowledge of their child’s development. Training in the PEEP Learning Together Programme will be provided.

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.
• Vitality membership wellness and fitness app – including lots of great health benefits, rewards, telephone, and face to face counselling.
• 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:

• Work as directed, alongside Flying Start colleagues and partner agencies, to support children’s speech, language and communication skills through improved home learning environments, using one to one and group interventions.
• Provide PEEP Learning Together programmes and other programmes/sessions to children and families in the home and at various sites, empowering families to join groups for wider support and the library.
• Engage with maintained nurseries, private, voluntary, independent education/ childcare providers and childminders to promote the referral service for families.
• Work closely with the Flying Start Speech and Language Therapist and Parenting Manager to ensure a joined-up approach and clear pathways for families where additional support maybe required.
• Promote the uptake of free education and childcare places for children not in a setting at 3 years old or 2 years if entitled to a free place.
• 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.

Essential criteria:

• Level 3 qualification in Early Years plus proven demonstrable experience of working with families providing child development support in the early years, either in a children centre, health service, early help team, childcare setting, school or community group.
• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent.
• Commitment to supporting families and increasing opportunities to help reduce health inequalities.
• Experience in facilitating groups such as parenting programmes or workshops and modelling appropriate behaviour or strategies.
• Good understanding of child development and the role of the care giver in the home learning environment.
• A good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and key messages that support healthy lifestyles, social, emotional, speech, communication and language development.