Early Years Funding and Information Officer

**We’re looking for an Early Years Funding and Information Officer, Interested?**

Do you want a role where you’re recognised for what you do, given the opportunity to thrive and have the chance to be the best version of yourself? Interested in joining a great organisation with an employee offer and experience that rivals others? Are you looking for a new challenge? If so, please keep reading as you’re just what we’re looking for

**The team**

Education, Schools and Inclusion covers a wide range of areas, including schools organisation and admissions, adult learning, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and support services to schools, such as school improvement, music service, sports partnership, governor support and the Early Years Childcare Service.

The Early Years Childcare Service provide services checking the eligibility for a funded early education and childcare place. The service directly contact families potentially eligible for 2-year-old funding, who have been identified to the local authority by Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The department audit and allocate funding to early education and childcare providers, offer a family information service on-line directory, provide childcare sufficiency assessment, early years census and provide support and training for childcare providers.

**About the role**

You will coordinate and administer payments to providers of the free early entitlement for 2-, 3- and 4-year olds, ensuring an efficient and high quality service in Gateshead, in line with the Department for Education’s Statutory Guidance and Gateshead Council’s Financial Regulations. You will also provide accurate and appropriate information to internal and external partners.

**A bit about Gateshead Council**

Gateshead is a constantly changing borough combining modern facilities with a fascinating heritage and the demand for our services continues to grow. We engage with many partners and contract a high number of services to deliver the best outcomes for our community. We’re truly committed to providing our customers with the highest quality of service and we need like-minded people who can help us deliver a sector leading service. We need people who want to make a difference, who are talented, possess the right knowledge and skills and who want the chance to demonstrate how good they are.

People really are our greatest asset at Gateshead Council, and we value every employee. We encourage our people to think differently, do the right thing and be innovative.

**What’s in it for you? Well, there’s so much on offer and here’s just a few of the highlights**
- You’ll be paid a competitive salary £28,624 to £31,067 pa
- We’ll help you save for your future with an outstanding employer contribution to your pension.
- You will receive an annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days per year (pro-rata for part time employees) rising to 32, 2 of which may be fixed by the council at any time. You also have the chance to buy up to 10 additional holidays per year.
- We offer hybrid working arrangements to ensure a positive work life balance.
- A robust Workforce Development offer with opportunities for learning to progress your career and to enhance your knowledge in specific areas.
- You’ll have access to great health and wellbeing support, including discounted membership to GO Gateshead Leisure Services and ability to use our cycle to work scheme.
- You’ll have access to our new benefits platform VIVUP where you can get discounts and offers on online and high street shopping

**It’s time to apply**

We’re delighted that you want to come and work with us. Please take a look at the full job profile via this link**:JOB PROFILE**. It’s important that you read it in full and check that you meet the essential criteria, because when we start choosing people to come and meet us we’ll be checking to ensure that they meet the essential criteria as set out in the job profile.