Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Early Years Practitioner - CFHD

The closing date is 06 April 2026

Job summary

We are excited to be advertising for a Full Time Early Years Practitioner to support our Early Child Development Pathway of care in Exeter, Torbay and South Devon. This vacancy is for 30 hours per week with the possibility of full-time hours (37.5 per week) should the successful candidate wish to request this.

The Early Child Development Pathway provides assessment, and therapy plans for children aged 0 5 years where there is evidence of possible or significant delay that is affecting the child in two or three areas of their development.

The Early Years Practitioner will be the named and key contact for family during the assessment period.

The role holder will offer support and strategies to families, based on the assessed needs during the assessment period, and where a post assessment plan indicates a period of support is required.

The role will offer support and strategies to children whose development is assessed as having moved away from the expected variation and for whom time limited, needs focused intervention may support a return to expected developmental progression.

Main duties of the job

To observe, record and assess a child's developmental needs either at home or in an educational setting as part of the specialist assessment.
To support assessment appointments as indicated which may be within the home, community based or in the assessment centre.
To offer home and early years setting visits as indicated to gather play-based observations and information as part of the assessment process.
To offer, in the environment most appropriate for the child, advice support and strategies tailored to the child's specific needs during the assessment pathway.
To offer support, advice and strategies to families as agreed in the post assessment therapy recommendations and in an environment most appropriate to supporting the child's needs.
To attend and contribute to Team around the family meetings or safeguarding meetings to share assessment recommendations and strategies.
To support a caseload of named children within the early years assessment pathway under the guidance of the lead professional for the Early Years Practitioner team.
To complete a play-based assessment and recommendations in a written format as part of the multi-professional assessment outcome.
To support and offer evidence-based strategies to children. This is under the agreement and guidance of the Lead Professional for the Early Years Practitioner team. To actively participate and contribute to learning opportunities within the Early Child Development pathway across the wider CFHD footprint.

About us

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health which are provided by Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership Trust. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services.

CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our own staff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.

Our children and young people say

We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.

Date posted

23 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,392 to £31,157 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-26-0209

Job locations

Children & Family Health Devon

Bittern Road

Sowton Industrial Estate

Exeter

EX2 7FW

Job description

Job responsibilities

Full Vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification. Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Evidence of Foundation Degree Level study (Level 5)
One of the qualifications below or equivalent:
BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education
NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
Functional Skills at Level 2 (Literacy and numeracy/ GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in English and Maths)

Experience

Essential

Proven experience as a Senior Healthcare worker
Experience of working as part of a team
Awareness of professional issues and recent developments in the NHS and Primary Care
Knowledge of up to date clinical practice
Understands the role and remit of a Band 4
Experience with the use of Microsoft Office and a variety of IT packages

Desirable

Experience of community environment

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Evidence of Foundation Degree Level study (Level 5)
One of the qualifications below or equivalent:
BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education
NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development
Functional Skills at Level 2 (Literacy and numeracy/ GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in English and Maths)

Experience

Essential

Proven experience as a Senior Healthcare worker
Experience of working as part of a team
Awareness of professional issues and recent developments in the NHS and Primary Care
Knowledge of up to date clinical practice
Understands the role and remit of a Band 4
Experience with the use of Microsoft Office and a variety of IT packages

Desirable

Experience of community environment

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).

Additional information