Early Years Development Worker

Hours: 26 Hours Per Week

Term: Fixed until 31st March 2026

Interview Date: 23rd May 2024

Closing Date: 8th May 2024

Salary: Grade 4 (£24,702 - £27,334 FTE)

We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to join Inspire libraries’ Early Years team as an Early Years Development Worker.

The post supports the development, delivery and promotion of library services to children aged 0 - 4 and their families, including the BookTrust Bookstart programme.

You will be working directly with children and their families in libraries and in the community including; children’s centres, nurseries, parent and toddler groups to encourage book sharing and library use to help inspire a love of books that could last a lifetime. You will be an advocate for the Bookstart programme, early literacy and libraries and work closely with partners in early years, education and health services and across Inspire.

Recent experience of work with young children and their families in a library, education or childcare setting is essential.

You will have excellent communication skills, organisational abilities and an enthusiasm and commitment to the ethos and principles of Bookstart and the public library service.

Working 26 hours per week including occasional weekend working, the postholder will be based at Sutton-in-Ashfield Library, with home working supported. The post involves travel countywide to libraries and community venues.

This is a fixed term post until 31st March 2026.

For further details and to arrange an informal discussion, please contact Carolyn Gallagher carolyn.gallagher@inspireculture.org.uk or Marie Evans marie.evans@inspireculture.org.uk

Job Description

Job Title: Early Years Development Worker

Grade 4

Job Purpose

To develop and deliver early literacy programmes across Nottinghamshire for children aged 0 - 4 years old, their families and carers.

Key Responsibilities

1. To deliver targeted work relating to early literacy to improve outcomes for children.
2. To promote library services, including Bookstart, to parents, carers and professionals.
3. To identify and engage with groups and individuals in the community including those who are, or feel, excluded from libraries to increase their effective use of libraries.
4. To inspire, support and encourage parents of 0 - 4 year olds who are not regular readers or regular library users in participating in their children's early learning particularly literacy development.
5. To deliver promotional activities and provide advice to parents, carers and other professionals on children's books, information, ICT and literacy development and sign post adult learning opportunities.
6. To deliver training for library staff in the effective delivery of library services to under 5s and their families.
7. To work collaboratively with colleagues in Inspire, Nottinghamshire County Council and partners in health and education to ensure all parents of eligible children have access to Bookstart and encouragement to use the library service.
8. The post holder will work in accordance with all Inspire policies and procedures, Inspire Brand guidelines, contractual requirements, and professional best practice
9. The post holder will perform any duties or tasks assigned by management required to meet service needs as appropriate to the role.

Education and Knowledge Required for the role

1. Qualification relevant to work with Early Years children, or in library and information work, at National Qualifications Framework level 3 or above.
2. Knowledge of child development, particularly early literacy and language development including knowledge of government strategy for early years.
3. Knowledge of the range of library services and understanding of the role of libraries in promoting early language literacy skills and lifelong learning.
4. Understanding of Safeguarding responsibilities
5. Good literacy, numeracy and ICT skills

Skills and Experience

1. Experience of providing a service to pre-school children and their parents/carers in an early years, library or education setting .
2. Experience of working in a multi-agency team
3. Experience of working with internal or external partners to plan and deliver services.
4. Experience of organising own work.
5. Willingness to travel to venues and possession of full clean driving licence and use of a vehicle.

Role Dimensions

1. Develop, deliver and promote library services, including the Bookstart offer, to children 0 – 4 and their families in libraries and in the community,
2. Support library staff to deliver a high quality library offer for children under 5 through advice and training. 

Inspire Competencies

 Customer Service (Competency Level 3) 

1. Demonstrates effective customer service skills – in person, online, email or on the phone - identifies and satisfies customer needs, adjusting their style with a friendly and professional approach as appropriate for the customer, respecting confidentiality, equality & diversity and prioritises the customer over tasks where appropriate
2. Responds positively to customer concerns, acts to resolve or reassure customers as needed, agrees solutions with the customer or hands over to an appropriate colleague
3. Responds positively to any complaint or suggestion and seeks to resolve it within limits of their authority or hands over to a more senior manager as appropriate

Deliver the service offer (Competency Level 3)

1. Knows and/or accesses information to advise and promote the Inspire Service Offer to all customers – to meet their immediate needs and other services that could be of interest or benefit them
2. Embraces any changes to the offer and any associated changes to processes or working practices positively, takes responsibility for their own development and engages with and makes the most of development opportunities provided
3. Shares feedback about the Inspire offer with their line manager and contributes to meetings, discussions and related activities to ensure service delivery and/or improve our offer

Communicating well (Competency Level 3)

1. Communicates clearly and effectively in person, on the phone and in writing respectfully and in a style appropriate to the person and situation and uses and engages with Inspire’s online communications
2. Communicates effectively in a meeting or other group situation, respectfully and in a style appropriate to the group and situation with a solutions-based / can-do approach
3. Debates, positively challenges and/or discusses issues with colleagues and line manager, sharing views and acknowledging and respecting the views of others, seeks to reach agreement and respects the final decision made

Working together (Competency Level 4)

1. Adopts a friendly, helpful, supportive and respectful manner when working with others
2. Acts in a way that shows they are trustworthy, reliable and transparent in their dealings with others, respecting privacy and confidentiality as appropriate
3. Forms positive and effective working relationships, makes and implements decisions fairly, using good judgement and with integrity, in line with Inspire values and role modelling Inspire management and leadership behaviours
4. Forms and maintains effective internal and external working relationships across the organisation, with external partners, stakeholders and funding organisations, motivated by achieving the best for our customers and in the best interests of all concerned

Managing others (N/A) 

Leading the way (Competency Level 2) 

1. Incorporates the spirit of Inspire’s mission, vision and values in the work they do with customers, colleagues and stakeholders, plays their part in implementing Inspire policies and procedures and management decisions
2. Articulates and shares Inspire’s mission, vision and values to enthuse and focus the efforts of colleagues

Working efficiently and cost effectively (Competency Level 2)

1. Uses Inspire resources and their time effectively to meet service demand, objectives and/or targets
2. Plans ahead, making best use of time and resources available to achieve service delivery, maximising the use of technology available, minimising unnecessary travel or waste, prioritising work and working within spending limits

Skills and qualifications (Competency Level 3)

A level / A2 Level / AS level or Level 3 Extended Diploma or Level 3 National Certificate