Job summary
Full time: 37Hours per Week
Salary: Cognus Band 3 to 4, £38,831.79 - £52,462.77
(dependent on qualifications and
experience)
Location: Cognus Office, First Floor,
Cantium House, Wallington, SM6 0DZ
Are you an excellent
Early Years professional, passionate about securing the very best outcomes for
0 to 5-year-olds?
We are
excited to recruit an Early Years Adviser to join our vibrant, forward-thinking
team. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that provides high
quality challenge, intervention, and professional development to Early Years
providers.
In this role,
you will support PVI settings and schools to improve learning outcomes and
further develop inclusive practice across the London Borough of Sutton.
The
successful applicant will have a thorough understanding of quality Early Years
practice and provision, for 0 to 5-year-olds. They will a good understanding of
national and local documents, publications, and issues, relevant to the
learning, development and safeguarding within the EYFS.
The post holder will provide advice, guidance, and support to
empower Early Years practitioners to deliver good or better practice to our 0
to 5-year-olds.
This role
provides the opportunity to work remotely, as well as in the office. The position will require travel across the
London Borough of Sutton and the use of a car is a requirement of this
appointment.
Main duties of the job
- To have due regard for safeguarding and
promoting the welfare of 0 5-year-old children and to follow the child
protection procedures adopted by the Cognus Limited, the School and Sutton
Councils Safeguarding Childrens Partnership.
- To ensure that all 0 5-year-olds receive
high quality early years provision, as reflected in the Early Years Foundation
Stage revised Framework.
- To ensure that you bring forward your
outstanding standing practice and innovative ideas, to challenge areas where
the Local Authority/Cognus can improve the outcomes for 0 5-year-olds within
the Local Area.
- To take reasonable care for the health and
safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by your acts or
omissions at work. Co-operate with Cognus/LBS to enable them to perform or
comply with their duties under statutory health and safety provisions.
- To take positive action to ensure a thorough
understanding of a positive commitment to equality in both service delivery and
employment practices.
- To promote equality and inclusion,
particularly for disadvantaged families, children looked after, children in
need and children with disabilities or special educational needs. Through
removing barriers of access to early years education and working with families
to give each child the opportunity to fulfil their true capabilities.
- To ensure a cohesive joined up approach to
improving outcomes for 0 to 5 year-olds, across the whole of the early years
sector, so that children are school ready.
About us
You will give us great commitment and in return we offer an excellent package
including:
i)
Salaryfrom £38,831.79 to £52,462.77 per
annum (Cognus Band 3 to 4),dependent on qualifications and experience
ii)
Workplace pension scheme 4% to 8%
matched contributions
iii)
28 days annual leave pro rata
(plus Bank Holidays)
iv)
Regular manager support and
supervision
v)
Hybrid and flexible working
vi)Staff benefits package, currently
including Employee Assistance Programme, Perkbox and (upon completion of
probation) Sovereign Healthcare Cashback plans
vii)Staff Council, Staff EDI group and Mental Health First
Aiders to support wellbeing and inclusion
viii)
Cognus Coaching Programmes
ix)
An ambitious culture with friendly and supportive
colleagues
If
you believe as strongly as we do in the importance of the Early Years and you
are excited by this challenge, we want to hear from you. Please apply to recruitment@cognus.org.uk
with the completed application form, outlining your suitability. The deadline
for receipt is Thursday 16th May 2024. We reserve the right to possibly offer
early interviews to any applicant who meets all the required qualifications and
experience criteria. Please note that
CVs are not accepted.
Previous
applicants need not reapply.
Candidates
are requested to be available for Stage 1 interview (online) on Monday
20th May 2024 and Stage 2 interview (face to face in Cognus
Office) on Thursday 23rd May 2024.
Job description
Job responsibilities
COMPETENCIES
a)To have
a key role in improving the quality of provision in PVI settings and schools
across the London Borough of Sutton, to enable improved outcomes for children
at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage including those with a special
educational need and/or disability.
b)To use
available data and information, to effectively inform frequency and type of
visits that take place.
c)To
ensure that professionals receive the necessary support to enable them to
provide quality first provision for all their children aged 0 to 5 years- of-
age.
d)
Working
in a multi-agency approach, to support improvements being made for all children
aged 0 to 5 years, across the Borough.
e)
To
support the delivery of termly Early Years network meetings, so that those
working with children, are effectively supported in their role.
f)
To work
with PVI settings and schools, to narrow the gap for all children including
vulnerable groups, to enable them to achieve a Good Level Development (GLD)
g)
To keep
accurate records, prepare regular reports and maintain appropriate
documentation relating to work undertaken.
h)
To keep
abreast of Department of Education (DfE) and Ofsted guidance, national and
local issues.
i) To
ensure that any advice communicated to providers is accurate, correct,
consistent and well presented in a clear and accessible format.
j)To plan
and deliver quality training to both PVI settings and schools. Review training
once it has taken place.
k)To
encourage practitioners to access appropriate training courses, both local and
national.
l)To work
closely with PVI settings and schools, to promote better partnership working,
to ensure smooth transitions for children moving from early years settings to
school and between schools.
m)To
attend team meetings and Cognus all staff meetings. To attend compulsory annual
Safeguarding training and conference.
n)
To work
collaboratively with Cognus colleagues and professionals within the Local Area,
to ensure that PVI settings and Schools, deliver good or better provision and
the needs of all 0 to 5-year-olds are met.
Job description
Job responsibilities
COMPETENCIES
a)To have
a key role in improving the quality of provision in PVI settings and schools
across the London Borough of Sutton, to enable improved outcomes for children
at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage including those with a special
educational need and/or disability.
b)To use
available data and information, to effectively inform frequency and type of
visits that take place.
c)To
ensure that professionals receive the necessary support to enable them to
provide quality first provision for all their children aged 0 to 5 years- of-
age.
d)
Working
in a multi-agency approach, to support improvements being made for all children
aged 0 to 5 years, across the Borough.
e)
To
support the delivery of termly Early Years network meetings, so that those
working with children, are effectively supported in their role.
f)
To work
with PVI settings and schools, to narrow the gap for all children including
vulnerable groups, to enable them to achieve a Good Level Development (GLD)
g)
To keep
accurate records, prepare regular reports and maintain appropriate
documentation relating to work undertaken.
h)
To keep
abreast of Department of Education (DfE) and Ofsted guidance, national and
local issues.
i) To
ensure that any advice communicated to providers is accurate, correct,
consistent and well presented in a clear and accessible format.
j)To plan
and deliver quality training to both PVI settings and schools. Review training
once it has taken place.
k)To
encourage practitioners to access appropriate training courses, both local and
national.
l)To work
closely with PVI settings and schools, to promote better partnership working,
to ensure smooth transitions for children moving from early years settings to
school and between schools.
m)To
attend team meetings and Cognus all staff meetings. To attend compulsory annual
Safeguarding training and conference.
n)
To work
collaboratively with Cognus colleagues and professionals within the Local Area,
to ensure that PVI settings and Schools, deliver good or better provision and
the needs of all 0 to 5-year-olds are met.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- a. Values company and DfE safeguarding practices for the protection of all 0 5-year-olds. Understands and engages with all policies/practice to achieve this aim.
- b. Demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to Cognus policies in relation to Equal Opportunities, Diversity, and Inclusion. Demonstrate the ability to implement these policies in their daily practice
- c. Able to take ownership of their responsibilities, meet deadlines and understand accountability of the role and service
- d. Recent and varied experience of working within the early years foundation stage with children aged 0 5 years.
- e. Successful experience of raising standards through leading the improvement of provision for 0 5- year- olds.
- f. Extensive experience to monitoring and evaluating childrens outcomes, in addition to planning provision to meet developmental needs.
- g. Recent experience of developing action plans to support colleagues to further develop their practice
- h. A track record of effective team work to support improved outcomes for children
- i. Recent experience of supporting a colleague, PVI setting or school in need of making improvements
Aptitude and Skills
Essential
- a. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- b. Values strong partnership working with families, carers, PVIs, schools and 0 5-year-olds, ensuring a multi-agency approach
- c. Strong organisational skills and able to meet strict deadlines
- d. Ability to communicate with compassion and authority in challenging situations
- e. Good verbal and written communication
- f. Strong analytical and interpretation skills
- g. Ability to remain objective and act with confidentiality in all situations
- h. Professional, courteous, and able to form positive relationships with all stakeholders
- i. Effectively engage with a variety of other teams and professionals as part of the Early Years integrated approach
- j. Work flexibly, able to re-arrange work in relation to changing priorities and to meet the needs of the team, Local Area, and national initiatives
- k. Ensure that all activities are carried out within current DfE and Cognus safeguarding guidelines
- l. Advisers will be required to work outside their normal hours contracted hours, (in the evening and at occasionally at weekends when necessary)
- m. Ensure GDPR protocols are adhered to at all times in relation to data.
- n. A team player both within the company and within the wider Local Area
- o. Full clean driving licence with access to a vehicle, to enable visits to PVI settings and schools to be made in a timely manner
Qualifications
Essential
- QTS/EYT/EYP/Relevant Level 6
Desirable
- a. Experience of being a DSL or having an advanced Safeguarding qualification
- b. Evidence of further relevant professional qualifications
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- a. Values company and DfE safeguarding practices for the protection of all 0 5-year-olds. Understands and engages with all policies/practice to achieve this aim.
- b. Demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to Cognus policies in relation to Equal Opportunities, Diversity, and Inclusion. Demonstrate the ability to implement these policies in their daily practice
- c. Able to take ownership of their responsibilities, meet deadlines and understand accountability of the role and service
- d. Recent and varied experience of working within the early years foundation stage with children aged 0 5 years.
- e. Successful experience of raising standards through leading the improvement of provision for 0 5- year- olds.
- f. Extensive experience to monitoring and evaluating childrens outcomes, in addition to planning provision to meet developmental needs.
- g. Recent experience of developing action plans to support colleagues to further develop their practice
- h. A track record of effective team work to support improved outcomes for children
- i. Recent experience of supporting a colleague, PVI setting or school in need of making improvements
Aptitude and Skills
Essential
- a. Candidates must be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- b. Values strong partnership working with families, carers, PVIs, schools and 0 5-year-olds, ensuring a multi-agency approach
- c. Strong organisational skills and able to meet strict deadlines
- d. Ability to communicate with compassion and authority in challenging situations
- e. Good verbal and written communication
- f. Strong analytical and interpretation skills
- g. Ability to remain objective and act with confidentiality in all situations
- h. Professional, courteous, and able to form positive relationships with all stakeholders
- i. Effectively engage with a variety of other teams and professionals as part of the Early Years integrated approach
- j. Work flexibly, able to re-arrange work in relation to changing priorities and to meet the needs of the team, Local Area, and national initiatives
- k. Ensure that all activities are carried out within current DfE and Cognus safeguarding guidelines
- l. Advisers will be required to work outside their normal hours contracted hours, (in the evening and at occasionally at weekends when necessary)
- m. Ensure GDPR protocols are adhered to at all times in relation to data.
- n. A team player both within the company and within the wider Local Area
- o. Full clean driving licence with access to a vehicle, to enable visits to PVI settings and schools to be made in a timely manner
Qualifications
Essential
- QTS/EYT/EYP/Relevant Level 6
Desirable
- a. Experience of being a DSL or having an advanced Safeguarding qualification
- b. Evidence of further relevant professional qualifications
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
