Development Officer

Directorate: Children and Family Services Section: Education and Standards Partnerships Location: Civic Centre Grade: Level 8 Hours: 37 hours per week The Role: The role of Development Officer is part of the Early Years Quality Improvement Team. This team is within the Education Standards and Partnerships section of the Children and Families directorate. Key Responsibilities: • Work with a range of partners to deliver challenge, advice and practical support to Early Years providers. • Provide support, advice and guidance for the setting up of new early education and childcare provision. • Assist in the provision of support, advice and guidance in relation to the statutory welfare requirements of EYFS. • To establish and maintain effective working relationships with key partners and stakeholders • within the organisation and externally. • Respond with specific support to early years providers according to identified need, including training as appropriate. About You: • Experienced Early Years Practitioner qualified to Level 3 minimum. • Ability to model effective practice for 0–5-year-olds. • Well-developed IT, oral and written communication skills. • Ability to foster partnerships and work collaboratively to achieve performance. • Comprehensive knowledge of EYFS frameworks and statutory requirements. What we offer: • A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent • Hybrid and flexible working options • An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme • Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager, Emma Drakeford, Emma.Drakeford@stoke.gov.uk About us: We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that’s where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision. Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need. Pre-Employment Checks: Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include: • Right to Work in the UK • Proof of address • Satisfactory references • Occupational Health Clearance • Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations • DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role) The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies. No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council. Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council. Organisation Process Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.