Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance
Wigan Life Centre South
College Avenue
Wigan
WN1 1NJ
Salary: Grade 7, £31,586 - £35,235 per annum.
1 x 37 hours per week, Temporary until May 2026
1 x 37 hours per week, Permanent
We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.
We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!
Your role:
About the Early Years and Childcare Team:
The Early Years and Childcare team, provide information, support and guidance to a range of childcare providers across the Wigan Borough. Our main aim to ensure all children have the ‘Best Start in Life’. In joining our friendly and supportive team you will help us to make a difference to children and young people in Wigan. The team is responsible for delivering on the Local Authorities statutory duties outlined in the Childcare Act 2006 and 2016. ‘To secure sufficient childcare in their area for working parents’ and ensure all eligible children can access the early education entitlement.’
In your role you will be responsible for:
* The analysis of childcare places to identify current sufficiency position and any localities which may require some development work to expand existing or develop new childcare places within the Borough.
* Implementing our delivery plans for the wraparound childcare programme.
* Implement our place creation for the expansion of the early education entitlement for children from 9 months to 4 years.
* Providing business delivery information, support and guidance to schools, private, voluntary and independent providers including childminders to ensure they can work towards sustainable business models.
* Ensure parents and carers are fully aware of the different types of support available to them to help with the cost of childcare including tax free childcare, entitlements, universal credit.
* Monitoring and reporting of the impact of capital and revenue funding has had in supporting working parents access to childcare.
About you:
The ideal candidate will hold the following however training for the right candidate will be available:
* You will have a minimum qualification level 3 for English and Maths.
* Ideally you will have previous experience in planning for childcare place provision and have recent experience working in a similar role in another Local Authority or in the Childcare Sector within a management role.
* You will have excellent analytical skills to assess data collated from childcare providers, schools, DfE and local area profiles.
* Excellent communication skills including ability to write reports, deliver presentations, training and information to a range of professionals.
* You will have considerable experience of using Microsoft Office Suite, with specific skills and knowledge of Excel including the functions such as Look Up Tables and ‘IF’. You will also have experience of creating databases, creating reports and presenting statistical data.
* You will have sound knowledge relating to Ofsted registration pathways for the Early Years and Childcare registers, along with other related regulations.
* You can demonstrate a ‘can do’ attitude and are able to travel to meet partners located within the Wigan Borough. Please note the successful candidate will be required to work the occasional evening.
About us:
Wigan Council has been voted ‘Overall Council of the Year’ at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards. We are signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment ensuring that your service will be continuous or 'unbroken' between the supporting organisations.
The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our 2 place missions; create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them.
You will join our Operational Support team, who deliver our Family Information Service, Service for Schools training programme. The team provides a range of information, guidance and support to parents and carers relating to eligibility and access to the entitlements for early education, finding childcare and provide targeted recruitment and engagement support.
The team work directly with Wigan’s schools and childcare providers including childminders to offer business support, funding guidance, pathways to Ofsted registration.
The team work flexibly and combine office days and working from home. Please note there will be occasions when you will be required to work the occasional evenings.
Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits click here to find out more about working for #TeamWigan.
To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK. Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Prove your right to work to an employer
For further information, or an informal discussion, please contact Angela Bostock: angela.bostock@wigan.gov.uk
Interview date: To Be Confirmed
To view the details relating to this position, please click the links below: