Job Description
Job title: Implementation Adviser – early years
Responsible to: Director of Implementation
Contract: Up to 24 months fixed term contract
Hours: Full time (35 hours per week)
Location: London based with national travel
About the Early Intervention Foundation
Every child needs support to achieve their potential but some children require extra help
along the way. Early Intervention is about getting additional, timely and effective support to
children who need it – enabling them to flourish and preventing costly, long-term and
damaging outcomes.
The Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) is a new and dynamic charity. We promote Early
Intervention by:
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Assessing the evidence on what works
Advising organisations across the public and voluntary sector on what they can do
Advocate for a shift to early intervention nationally
We work with a wide range of people from Members of Parliament to children’s centre
managers and health visitors to understand what they are doing, find out what works and to
advise them on how they could do more to provide effective early intervention for children
and families. To find out more about the EIF visit our website www.eif.org.uk
Implementation Adviser
We are seeking a passionate committed individual who wants to work with us to drive
improvements in Early Intervention in local areas.
Scope
The Implementation adviser will be responsible for 6 areas which are delivering Early
Intervention across the full (0-19) age range and lead our work programme on the
early years in local areas. They will provide guidance and advice on effective early
intervention programmes, systems and practice to support local commissioners and
managers improve Early Intervention that will enable children to flourish. With a
particular focus on services and systems covering the early years, this is a key
opportunity to impact and re-shape local activity to have a profound impact on
children's lives and create savings. This will include information on evidence based
interventions, advice on assessment of local population needs, outcomes,
commissioning and workforce and on the development of local Early Intervention
strategies relevant to both the early years and beyond.
The postholder will need to build relationships with local commissioners and leaders
and understand their needs and local dynamics in order to influence the adoption of
EIF advice and create real change on the ground. It provides an opportunity to
combine time in local areas and the centre. The role also offers the opportunity to
work with national leaders (in PHE, DH, DFE, NHS England etc) and ministers to
influence the development of national policy and advocacy for Early Intervention.
Specific responsibilities
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To support the Director of implementation to deliver a highly credible advice
and guidance service to drive the adoption of effective Early Intervention in
the early years and beyond throughout England.
To lead a programme of support for a small number of areas who bid for but
did not obtain Big Lottery ‘Better Start’ funding as they work out how to take
their plans forward.
To take forward EIF work covering conception to age 5 including delivering
effective advice and developing tools to share good practice on integrated
early years systems that can lead to improved outcomes for children and
families.
To lead relationships with a number of EI ‘pioneering places’, building
relationships and working in depth to achieve real change and improvement,
particularly in early years delivery.
To support the development of partnerships in local areas encouraging
commissioners and budget holders (particularly in relation to the early years)
to come together to understand local needs, issues and gaps, agree shared
priorities and develop EI strategies and action plans to achieve them.
To spot and write up interesting practice, capture it and communicate it to a
range of audiences including developing tools, guidance and advice on key
issues relevant to delivering EI.
Working closely with EIF colleagues to ensure learning is shared within the
team, across all pioneer Places and beyond.
To build rapid and sound relationships at a high level within local government,
health, police and other key stakeholders groups to secure commitment to
early intervention and policy change.
To explain and communicate the EIF advice on the evidence for particular
programmes or activities and support a range of audiences to better measure
and evaluate the impact of what they do.
Essential Characteristics
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Direct experience of delivery at a senior level of management and
commissioning in LA, NHS, Education, Police or VCS.
A credible reputation with senior local leaders, including DCS, DPH, CCG
chairs, VCS leaders etc
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In depth understanding of the public policy and delivery context relevant to EI
and the early years
Extensive understanding of commissioning in public services or the third
sector.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills: adept at presenting
impactful information tailored to different audiences
Ability to motivate and influence local places to come together, designing and
running engaging events to share and develop learning across places.
Confident in facilitating high level meetings with senior people that take
decisions and agree actions.
Confident in methods for driving change in local areas and a proven track
record of doing this.
Commitment to the ethos and principles of the EIF
Strong team working ethos, willing to support others and ‘muck in’ as needed