Portage Home Visitor

**ABOUT US**
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) is a diverse organisation that provides services to more than 850,000 residents every day. Our teams use their experience to enable and challenge the Council to deliver improved efficiency and effectiveness.

The Portage Service aims to promote the development and learning of children in early years who have additional needs.

The role of Home Visitor Portage works in full partnership with parents, supporting the child and family’s participation and inclusion in the community.

For more information about West Sussex County Council, please visit our **WSCC About Us** page.

**JOB DETAILS** Salary**: £23,194 - £24,496 per annum, pro rata £11,239.60 - £11,871.13
**Working Pattern**: Part-time (18 hours per week)
**Contract**: Permanent, Term Time Only 45 weeks
**Location**: Hybrid; County Hall, Chichester. You may also work from home
- You must be able to travel throughout the county including to locations that are not always accessible by public transport.

**Closing Date**: 08 November 2023

**Interview Date**:20 November 2023

Portage is an educational home visiting service for pre-school children with significant support needs. This is an exciting opportunity to join our supportive team of home visitors.

As a Portage Home Visitor, you will provide a home teaching service to pre-school children with additional needs and support to their families.

In this role you will work in partnership with families, stakeholder agencies and colleagues in a collaborative joined-up approach. This role includes report-writing, setting accurate targets, and you will be expected to lift and carry toys and equipment when you visit families.

If you have experience or an understanding of the Portage Approach this would be beneficial in this role; however, formal Portage training will be provided. All work will be carried out under the supervision of a teacher (Portage Coordinator) and Educational Psychologist.

We are looking for someone who has practical experience of working with very young children, alongside knowledge of effective strategies used for working with children with additional support needs. Experience of working in Early Years or with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) is desirable but not essential.

**WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED** Key Skills**:

- Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop collaborative working practices with a range of internal and external partners and the ability to work with team members in a supportive and complimentary way, ensuring the effective delivery of the service.
- Ability to plan and organise own work, for example: good record keeping; time keeping and time management.
- Ability to communicate both orally and in writing complicated and sensitive information to a range of audiences to achieve positive outcomes.
- Ability to relate to and motivate children through play.
- Ability to demonstrate emotional resilience and respond proactively and flexibly to the emotional and practical needs of the customer and any situations which may arise.
- Basic computer skills and the ability to generate accurate written reports.

**Experience and qualifications**:

- Proven experience of working with children in pre-school/early years, preferably with a range of special educational needs, for example working with children in an Early Years setting.
- Proven track record of successfully supporting the learning and development of young children.
- Experience of working successfully as part of a team.
- Experience of working in partnership with a wide range of professionals.
- Good general education, demonstrating competence in literacy and numeracy.
- Knowledge of Child Development and current developments in early years education.
- Completion of the nationally accredited National Portage Association (NPA). _The Portage Workshop _(to be completed within first six months of employment).
- Knowledge of effective strategies used for working with children with special educational needs in early years.
- Knowledge of effective strategies used for working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

**BENEFITS**
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.

In addition to working within a great team and a competitive salary you will have access to:

- 25 days annual leave + bank holidays with the ability to buy additional leave annually.
- Access to a generous, defined benefit pension scheme.
- A range of flexible working options we support hybrid working supporting and face to face and home working and are actively exploring smarter working practices.
- Maternity, paternity, dependency, and adoption leave.
- Training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring.
- A ra