About this role
Job summary
Looking for a Qualified Senior Early Years Educator (Children's Senior Practitioner) role at the next level with real purpose?
Our hospital-based Trust Nurseries provide high-quality care and education for children aged 9 months to 5 years while their parents and carers work for the NHS, emergency services or in the local community.
By working with us, you aren't just shaping young minds--you're directly supporting the NHS heroes who keep our community safe.
If you are a passionate, kind and qualified experienced early years educator, we want to hear from you.
The Senior Early Years Educator (Children's Practitioner) is a highly trained support role in our Trust workplace Nurseries, who deputises in the absence of the Nursery Manager.
They support the delivery and promotion of high-quality early years education and care for children, ensuring a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment that promotes each child's health, development and wellbeing.
Please note: Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules, this role may not 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.
Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes - GOV.UK
Health and Care Worker visa: If you'll need to meet different salary requirements - GOV.UK
Main duties of the job
Main tasks
a) To be responsible for the comprehensive assessment, planning, care and evaluation of groups of children, under the appropriate delegation from a line manager and in close liaison with the child/family/carer.b) To give compassionate, holistic individual care to service users.c) Implements the goal planning process and outcome measures used in the working environment to review progress of the child or young person.d) Undertakes delegated skills within their role having once undertaken relevant training, deemed competent and adhere to standard operating procedures.e) Support children, families and carers to improve and maintain their mental, physical, behavioural health and wellbeing.f) Contribute to ongoing assessment recognising when it is necessary to refer to others for reassessment.g) Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions.
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 2024 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 Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staffo 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 Trust
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.
Job description Job responsibilities
Main responsibilities
a) Promoting child development, learning and education.b) Plan, deliver, and evaluate age-appropriate activities that support childrens learning and development.c) Observe, assess, and record childrens progress.d) Support childrens emotional, physical, and social development through defined interventions.e) Ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, following safeguarding policies and procedures.f) Build strong, respectful relationships with parents and carers. Update parents and carers about childrens progress and wellbeing. Support parents in understanding their childs development and learning journey.g) Work collaboratively with colleagues and other professionals.h) Attend staff meetings, training sessions, and contribute to team planning.i) Maintain confidentiality and always uphold professional standards. Ensure the environment is clean, safe, and well-organised. j) Follow infection control procedures and policies.k) Specific tasks and knowledge will vary depending on workplace setting and responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Undergraduate diploma or equivalent appropriate qualification, e.g. undergraduate national diploma level 4 or foundation degree in childcare or equivalent or level 3 vocational qualification plus short courses or relevant experience in children's care, learning and development. Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English, or equivalent.
Desirable
Level 4 Foundation degree in Early Years
Experience Essential
Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team Ability to work independently with a delegated caseload/workload, use initiative whilst understanding limits of scope Ability to support the development of less experienced staff
Skills and knowledge Essential
Understanding of evidence-based practice Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional/line manager Understanding of the scope of the role in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development IT skills or literacy able to work with electronic systems or willing to work towards Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing Evidence of recent work-based learning or self-directed learning Infection Control Champion or a willingness to work towards ( as applicable to role)
Other requirements Essential
Ability to travel to other Trust locations, as required for the role.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address Rainbow Nursery, Crawley Hospital site,
West Green
Crawley
RH117DH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)