Early Years Worker

Job Information

Job Title: Early Years Worker

Monthly Pay: 1958.33pcm - 1991.08pcm

Workplace: Hadston, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 9SR

Job Purpose:
To provide high-quality care and play/early learning opportunities to all children attending daycare and creche provisions in various centres across the North Locality. Ensure safe, stimulating, and welcoming environments for children and parents/carers.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide care and early learning experiences tailored to children's individual needs and development stages, in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage practice guidance.
• Deliver Quality First Teaching, creating an inclusive and supportive teaching and learning environment.
• Participate in a key worker system, facilitating children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development, and track their progress.
• Work in partnership with parents/carers, sharing information about children's progress and encouraging their involvement in the provision and other activities.
• Observe, assess, and plan for children's individual needs, identifying those requiring increased support and determining necessary actions.
• Complete baseline assessments, 2-year checks, and contribute to individual child development records.
• Maintain records of key children's development and learning journeys, sharing with parents, carers, and other key adults using online technology.
• Promote children's welfare and development through positive behaviour management.
• Meet children's physical needs and contribute to creative and imaginative approaches to play/early learning, both indoors and outdoors.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness in the daycare provision.
• Report any concerns regarding children, parents, or the safety of the environment to the manager/deputy, preserving confidentiality as necessary.
• Participate in out-of-hours activities, including training, staff meetings, events, and parent/carer activities.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding information about children, their families, or other staff acquired as part of the job.
• Adhere to all policies, procedures, and standards relevant to the daycare provision.
• Work collaboratively as part of the childcare team, supporting colleagues and contributing to the ongoing development of the service.
• Engage in continuous professional development supportive of the post.
• Collaborate flexibly with other parts of the Sure Start Children’s Centre programme, including work at other centres as necessary.
• Assist in the supervision of students, trainees, and volunteers as requested by the Daycare Officer and participate in their assessment.
• Adhere to Northumberland County Council and Sure Start Children’s Centres' Equal Opportunities Policy and anti-discriminatory practices.
• Undertake other duties and responsibilities as required, commensurate with the post grade.

Work Arrangements:

• Occasional travel between centres for cover, training, or meetings.
• Flexible shift system and working across multiple childcare services in the locality.
• Direct work with children aged 0-5 years in a childcare setting, including significant outdoor play.

Person Specification:

Essential:

• Early Years Qualification (e.g., NNEB, B/TEC Diploma in Nursery Nursing, NVQ level 3 in Childcare and Education, or equivalent).
• Training in Early Years Foundations Stage Framework and Practice.
• At least 1 year's experience in an early years setting.
• Experience working with children under 4.
• Experience working in partnership with parents/carers and children.
• Sound understanding of child development and children's needs.
• Effective communication skills with children, parents/carers, and colleagues.
• Knowledge of relevant policies, procedures, and standards.
• Ability to plan and deliver play activities.
• Ability to record information accurately and appropriately.
• Flexibility in working as part of a team and willingness to undertake further training.
• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practices.

Desirable:

• Experience working with children with disabilities.
• Experience working in a child-centred community-based project.
• Experience working with children under 2 years.
• Full clean driver’s license and access to own vehicle.

Physical, Mental, and Emotional Demands:

• Ability to meet physical demands of working with children aged 0-5.
• Flexibility in shift patterns, service delivery, and base.
• Commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people.

Northumberland County Council’s Staff Bank provides a pool of highly skilled temporary workers who are looking for a long-term placement, or who want to work flexibly within the council. If a team needs support due to sickness, common staff shortages, or general vacancies, they call upon registered bank members to fill available assignments. These can be filled via a long-term assignment for up to 12 months or on an ad hoc basis. 

The Service 
Children, Young People and Education

The Role 

Early Years Worker. 

Benefits of joining NCC’s Staff Bank include: 

• Flexible contract – work and earn alongside your current commitments 

• Career opportunities - Build and increase your employability and professional network with the opportunity to gain fixed term and permanent contracts. 

• Try different roles within the organisation to find your fit.  

• Develop new skills and enhance current expertise to help supplement your career. 

Where we receive a high volume of applications for a post, we may bring the closing date forward. You are therefore advised to submit your completed application as early as possible to avoid disappointment. 
 
The Staff Bank is managed by the Temporary Staffing Team, who you can contact via temporarystaffing@northumberland.gov.uk. You will be subject to Northumberland County Council's pre-employment checking process which includes a minimum of 2 references covering the past 3 years, health clearance and proof of right to work in the UK and depending on the assignment you may be required to undertake a DBS check. 

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you wish to notify us of your eligibility for this scheme, please email hrrecruitment@northumberland.gov.uk or ring 01670 623930 with your name and the job title you have applied for and one of the recruitment team will ensure this is factored into the shortlisting process and kept anonymous. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below.  This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.   

For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes here

Alternative application format:

British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net  

For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930