Early Help Practitioner

Children Single Piont of Access Team

Working arrangements

2 days in the office, per week. Extra may be required and expected when needed.

We work with children, young people and families across Reading to deliver children’s social care, early help and prevention, education services (including SEND), fostering and adoption, the Youth Offending Service and traded services with schools.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

As Early Help Practitioner, we are seeking a skilled and knowledgeable practitioner to undertake front-door screening and Early Help decision-making within a fast-paced safeguarding environment. The role involves applying threshold decisions within tight timescales, reviewing referrals and historical involvement, completing chronologies, and liaising directly with families and professionals to determine appropriate support pathways. You will work closely with internal and external partners across agencies, contribute to 24-hour decision-making, maintain high-quality recording, and ensure families are clearly informed and signposted to services. The post holder will provide consultation and advice to practitioners, escalate safeguarding concerns when necessary, attend meetings and reflective practice sessions, and support continuous service improvement. A strong commitment to inclusive, anti-discriminatory practice, high professional standards, safeguarding legislation, and ongoing professional development is essential

You’ll ensure high quality, effective, and collaborative service delivery, working closely with partners across education, health, voluntary sector, police and other agencies to improve outcomes for children and families. The role requires curious thinking, confident decision making and the ability to manage complex operational demands.

In this role, you will take ownership of the operational delivery, ensuring that families receive timely and appropriate support. You’ll lead a motivated team, drive performance, and contribute to continuous improvement across the service.

You’ll also act as a role model for behaviours that promote best practice and a culture of continuous improvement.

About you

You’ll be an experienced Early Help Worker, or worker in a similar field, with interpersonal skills with the ability to manage competing demands in a fast‑paced environment.

We’re looking for

Substantial experience in children’s services including early help, or education, and youth work.

Strong understanding of ‘Front Door’ interventions and screenings.

Strong skills in risk assessment, case management and quality assurance.

Confidence working with data to drive performance and improvement.

Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

A proactive, resilient approach and the ability to manage pressure effectively.

Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.

You should also bring leadership qualities that empower others, promote equality and inclusion and ensure high‑quality service delivery.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including

Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave

A wide range of flexible working opportunities

Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)

On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted

Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

Closing Date

Sunday 24th May 2026

Interview Date

To be confirmed

Interview Process

To be confirmed

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.