Job Introduction
We’re recruiting a Family Centre Practitioner to join our Children and Families service. Our Family Centres are based in communities across Milton Keynes, and they’re a vital part of the support we offer to families with children.
You’ll play a key role in helping parents understand their child’s development, offering guidance, and creating positive early learning opportunities that contribute to school readiness.
Our colleagues work closely with partners across Milton Keynes to make sure families get the right support at the right time. This role involves working in our centres and out in the community, offering flexible working including some home working (where this is compatible with the service).
Milton Keynes City Council colleagues work together to make our city a better place to live. Our values – dedicated, respectful and collaborative – shape everything we do. We focus on creating safer, healthier communities, tackling inequalities and supporting families to thrive. You’ll be part of a supportive team, in an organisation that:
- Acts as one council, sharing knowledge and working together.
- Believes in fairness, inclusion and opportunities for everyone.
- Encourages colleagues to learn, grow and make well-informed decisions.
- Invests in community services like children’s centres because they truly matter.
Every day you’ll help build stronger families and support children at a crucial stage in their development
This is a Site-Based role
Interview for this role will be held on 26 March
Milton Keynes City Council is a modern and friendly place to work. Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk
Main Responsibility
In this rewarding role, you’ll:
- Plan and deliver Stay and Play sessions that support the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- Support parents to build confidence, strengthen relationships and understand their child’s development.
- Contribute to outreach work, engaging families who find it difficult to access services.
- Help increase involvement in children’s centre activities by supporting volunteers and local community groups.
- Work with partner organisations to support children and families as part of Early Help, including completing assessments and care plans when needed.
The Ideal Candidate
We’re looking for someone who is dedicated, respectful and collaborative, and who wants to make a difference for families with young children.
You’ll bring:
- An early education or childcare qualification.
- Practical knowledge of early years services such as childcare, education, health and employment support.
- The ability to manage a varied workload and adapt to changing needs.
- Good understanding of child development, parent support and safeguarding.
- Clear communication skills, including the ability to listen and explain information simply.
- ICT skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office.
- To be successful in this role, you’ll need a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle. If you’re offered the position, we’ll ask for proof of your licence and vehicle insurance, including business use cover. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to confirm your appointment without these documents.
- If you’re offered the role, we’ll arrange an Enhanced DBS check as part of our pre-employment process (unless you’re already registered with the DBS Update Service).
Package Description
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes
Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.
We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.
If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.
