Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Early Years Practitioner

The closing date is 17 August 2025

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Early Years Practitioner (SpEYP) to join our team. You will be based at Crawley Child Development Centre (CDC).

You are welcome to come and visit us at the CDC, please do contact the team to arrange and speak to one of our existing SpEYP's or Specialist Nurses who will happily discuss the role with you in more detail.

Contact details:

Crawley CDC -01293 301010

"Please note: Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules, this role is unlikely to be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role."

Main duties of the job

As a Specialist Early Years Practitioner you will be working as part of the multi-professional team based within Child Development Services (CDS). You will oversee a delegated caseload; delivering and adapting packages of care programmes and interventions using evidence based assessment and reasoning skills within your scope of competency.

The role requires participation and contribution to delegated assessments of children as part of CDS pathways, contributing to the wider multi-disciplinary assessment, intervention and planned care.

You will offer a range of support and advice for families and their children in a range of settings both individually as well as in groups; based on your competency and experience.

You will take part in and contribute to training, keeping your own personal development up-to-date and engaging in supervision as outlined by Sussex Community Foundation Trust (SCFT).

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?o Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trusto Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Details

Date posted

06 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

150-CP1878-PC-A

Job locations

Crawley Child Development Centre

West Green Drive

Crawley

RH11 7DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To assess and identify caseload and workload within scope of practice and competency through triage and referrals from MDT
  • To plan and undertake specialist interventions in a range of settings (including clinics, home visiting, education settings) carrying out developmental assessment, observations, providing support and advice, specific programmes of care and intervention; for children and their families known to CDS and MDT working in collaboration with members of the MDT (eg Paediatrician, Specialist Nurse, Occupational Therapist).
  • Plan and deliver specialist group and/ or individual interventions for children and families known to SpEYP caseload, recording outcomes. To include within this creating individual plans/targets/aims for development through play based learning, and opportunities.
  • To work independently within scope of practice, competencies and boundaries utilising evidence based practice, making safe decisions regarding the planning, assessment, intervention and support being offered to child/family.
  • To plan and support in the delivery of information sharing, advice, and training within scope of practice to peers, students, other professionals and assist in the induction of new staff
  • To make onward completed referrals to other agencies as required with support from MDT where necessary.
  • To support voluntary staff in SpEYP led groups (where applicable) and in liaison with the SCFT Volunteers lead, setting clear expectations and boundaries of their role
  • Works within Pan Sussex Child Protection Procedures reporting any concerns appropriately and escalating to the Specialist Nurse Supervisor or Clinical Services Manager and undertakes relevant in-service child protection training and supervision for role.
  • Participates and contributes to regular management and clinical supervision, in line with SCFT policy, reflecting on own and others practice to ensure safe and effective working. Recognises own boundaries and develops awareness of roles, responsibilities within own scope of practice and competency and of other health professionals and agencies.
  • Undertakes training and development relevant to the role and attends MDT meetings as required.
  • To participate in yearly appraisal in line with trust policy.
  • Maintain confidentiality of information in line with the GDPR Act 2018

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To assess and identify caseload and workload within scope of practice and competency through triage and referrals from MDT
  • To plan and undertake specialist interventions in a range of settings (including clinics, home visiting, education settings) carrying out developmental assessment, observations, providing support and advice, specific programmes of care and intervention; for children and their families known to CDS and MDT working in collaboration with members of the MDT (eg Paediatrician, Specialist Nurse, Occupational Therapist).
  • Plan and deliver specialist group and/ or individual interventions for children and families known to SpEYP caseload, recording outcomes. To include within this creating individual plans/targets/aims for development through play based learning, and opportunities.
  • To work independently within scope of practice, competencies and boundaries utilising evidence based practice, making safe decisions regarding the planning, assessment, intervention and support being offered to child/family.
  • To plan and support in the delivery of information sharing, advice, and training within scope of practice to peers, students, other professionals and assist in the induction of new staff
  • To make onward completed referrals to other agencies as required with support from MDT where necessary.
  • To support voluntary staff in SpEYP led groups (where applicable) and in liaison with the SCFT Volunteers lead, setting clear expectations and boundaries of their role
  • Works within Pan Sussex Child Protection Procedures reporting any concerns appropriately and escalating to the Specialist Nurse Supervisor or Clinical Services Manager and undertakes relevant in-service child protection training and supervision for role.
  • Participates and contributes to regular management and clinical supervision, in line with SCFT policy, reflecting on own and others practice to ensure safe and effective working. Recognises own boundaries and develops awareness of roles, responsibilities within own scope of practice and competency and of other health professionals and agencies.
  • Undertakes training and development relevant to the role and attends MDT meetings as required.
  • To participate in yearly appraisal in line with trust policy.
  • Maintain confidentiality of information in line with the GDPR Act 2018

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum 3 years post qualification EYE working in a children's setting or community setting.
  • Experience working with children with additional needs
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary / professional / agency working
  • Experience working in partnership or within child health environment
  • Experience providing and receiving complex information
  • Highly developed skills of assessment of child development ages and staged (EYFS) and interpretation of findings
  • Evidence of specialist skills in taking action and responding to assessments such as safeguarding or health needs

Desirable

  • Experience of leading and participation in research and auditing

Qualifications

Essential

  • Level 3 Early Years Educator Qualification (E.Y.E) (post 2014) or equivalent. (B.Tech Diploma/NVQ/Cache/City and Guilds)

Desirable

  • Level 5 Early Years Cache Diploma/ relevant foundation/full degree

Additional requirements

Essential

  • UK Driving Licence

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Working knowledge of child development and advanced clinical reasoning in relation to child development
  • Ability to demonstrate highly effective verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to organise own workload and delegate when appropriate
  • Ability to work as an effective multi-disciplinary team member
  • Ability to assess, develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care
  • Ability to demonstrate knowledge of key legislation relating to children with additional needs

Desirable

  • Ability to demonstrate an understanding of relevant NHS legislation and policies
  • Ability to competently use computers including software such as Word, Excel, Powerpoints and proficient use of electronic patient record systems
  • Understanding and knowledge of additional health conditions such as Autism
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum 3 years post qualification EYE working in a children's setting or community setting.
  • Experience working with children with additional needs
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary / professional / agency working
  • Experience working in partnership or within child health environment
  • Experience providing and receiving complex information
  • Highly developed skills of assessment of child development ages and staged (EYFS) and interpretation of findings
  • Evidence of specialist skills in taking action and responding to assessments such as safeguarding or health needs

Desirable

  • Experience of leading and participation in research and auditing

Qualifications

Essential

  • Level 3 Early Years Educator Qualification (E.Y.E) (post 2014) or equivalent. (B.Tech Diploma/NVQ/Cache/City and Guilds)

Desirable

  • Level 5 Early Years Cache Diploma/ relevant foundation/full degree

Additional requirements

Essential

  • UK Driving Licence

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Working knowledge of child development and advanced clinical reasoning in relation to child development
  • Ability to demonstrate highly effective verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to organise own workload and delegate when appropriate
  • Ability to work as an effective multi-disciplinary team member
  • Ability to assess, develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care
  • Ability to demonstrate knowledge of key legislation relating to children with additional needs

Desirable

  • Ability to demonstrate an understanding of relevant NHS legislation and policies
  • Ability to competently use computers including software such as Word, Excel, Powerpoints and proficient use of electronic patient record systems
  • Understanding and knowledge of additional health conditions such as Autism

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Crawley Child Development Centre

West Green Drive

Crawley

RH11 7DH


Employer's website

https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Crawley Child Development Centre

West Green Drive

Crawley

RH11 7DH


Employer's website

https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Specialist Nurse

Audrey Ritchie

audrey.ritchie@nhs.net

01293301010

Details

Date posted

06 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

150-CP1878-PC-A

Job locations

Crawley Child Development Centre

West Green Drive

Crawley

RH11 7DH


Supporting documents

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