** ADDITIONAL NEEDS SERVICE LEAD ** REF ANSL2507

** Interviews will be held on Monday 30th June 2025 ** 

SUMMARY OF ROLE

Sure Start is a government health and early intervention programme that provides a range of support services for parents and children under the age of four, who live in disadvantaged areas across Northern Ireland.  It aims to support parents from pregnancy and to give children the best start in life.  Colin Sure Start covers the wards of Colin Glen, Derriaghy, Kilwee, Poleglass and Twinbrook in outer West Belfast.

The role of the Additional Needs Service Lead:

1. To oversee the additional needs services at Colin Sure Start for children aged 0-4, supporting the development of quality services to families with children who may have additional/complex needs or requiring additional support within the overall delivery of the Sure Start programme in the Colin Sure Start area.
2. To engage and support families individually in the home and within group settings delivering programmes of support to enhance peer interactions, play and learning opportunities for children with additional/complex needs or requiring additional support who are registered with Colin Sure Start.
3. To offer support, assistance, strategies and information to the wider Colin Sure Start staff team and other professionals in relation to supporting children with learning difficulties or with additional/complex needs and to promote our additional needs services with other organisations and professionals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Professional Role within the Sure Start Project

1. To lead and develop Additional Needs Support Services within Colin Sure Start catchment area.
2. To meet with and contribute to the ongoing assessment of the needs of children with additional and/or complex needs who have registered with or been signposted to Colin Sure Start, to support the development of care plans in conjunction with Family Support Coordinator to provide a tailored package of appropriate support 
3. To ensure a child-centred, inclusive and welcoming environment for children of all abilities at all Colin Sure Start.
4. To enhance the role of parents/carers in children’s development; recognising, supporting and encouraging them as children’s first educators.

Line Management Responsibilities

1. To manage and support a small team of two early years staff delivering children’s programmes supporting children requiring additional support, ensuring delegation of tasks, regular supervision, appraisals and induction of new staff are undertaken.
2. To ensure that any staff that as part of the above team are aware of, and act in accordance with all relevant regulations, policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols and codes of conduct.
3. To arrange or provide appropriate training to staff to ensure the safe and effective delivery of all aspects of programme and service delivery.

Home Based Support and Facilitation Responsibilities

1. To provide a safe, stimulating and varied programme of play and learning opportunities for children under 4 years with identified additional and/or complex needs, suitable to individual children’s age and stage of development and appropriate to their best interests.
2. To Lead on the delivery, facilitation and development of support groups specific to children with additional/complex needs, e.g. Play & Grow, Bright Stars and Sensory Sessions and supporting oversight of our Little Rainbows children’s groups, ensuring that a holistic family approach is employed tailored to the needs of children.
3. To manage a small caseload of families delivering direct support with children and families in their own home to improve outcomes for children with additional and/or complex needs
4. To develop resources specific to supporting children with additional or complex needs
5. To contribute to the planning, delivery and monitoring of home and group-based support programmes that have an additional needs focus.
6. To support parents/carers in enhancing parenting skills and their understanding of children’s development, including positive parenting, effective behaviour management strategies, routines, positive play and supporting parent and infant mental health.
7. To enable and support parents/carers to access statutory and voluntary services and facilities.
8. To review family care plans, targets and outcomes regularly together with the Family Support Coordinator and ELC, in partnership with parents/carers and other health professionals where deemed appropriate.
9. To provide advice, information and support to families to access services e.g. parenting programmes, workshops, and events within Sure Start, as well as signposting to other relevant services in the community.
10. To work collaboratively with the wider Sure Start team to provide information and advice on supporting children with additional/complex needs and the services we provide.
11. To guide and support the wider Colin Sure Start team in consultation with management in relation to ensuring that signposting, observation, planning and evaluation takes into consideration children with additional/complex needs.
12. To liaise with parents/carers, professionals and other community projects in relation to the needs of children and families.
13. To contribute to the development of appropriate resources (e.g. leaflets, E-Newsletters, social media content and online resources).

General Responsibilities

     1.Actively promote the work of Colin Sure Start through regular liaison and good communication with community, voluntary and statutory agencies.

2. Maintain an up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, new policies and good practice.
3. Ensure confidentiality of information relating to children and their families is maintained at all times; by using accurate recording systems, adhering to all data protection, records management and confidentiality policies and procedures of the organisation.
4. Comply with all Colin Sure Start policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols and codes of conduct.
5. Ensure effective and economic use of resources and request/arrange maintenance for any equipment the role has responsibility for.
6. To work with the Senior Management Team in relation to the management and development of the wider Sure Start Project.
7. Participate in supervision, appraisal and appropriate training as required.
8. Be willing to work flexibly to suit the needs of the community.
9. To undertake any other relevant duties as considered appropriate by the Sure Start Project Manager or Management Committee.